Abstract: Objective To analyze the relationship between needs of assistive devices and the three other factors (age, disability categories, severity levels of disability) in order to scientifically formulate subsidy policy on assistive devices.MethodsThe assessment of rehabilitation needs for 928 Shenzhen citizens with new disability certificates in its six districts was performed by professionals, and the data was recorded into ACCESS database and analyzed.ResultsThe sequence of demand rates on assistive devices among disability categories was vision disability (78%), hearing disability (76%) and physical disability (74%); but speech, mental retardation and psychological disabilities had a low demand. The demand rates of assistive devices were dissimilar among four age groups for persons with vision, hearing and physical disabilities; for severity levels of three disability categories of vision, hearing and physical disabilities: the milder the vision disability was, the greater demand rates of assistive devices were; the demand rate of those with the second level of hearing disability was the highest; the demand rates of persons with the first and second levels of physical disability were relatively higher.ConclusionWhen drawing up subsidy policy on assistive devices for persons with disability, the disability categories, ages of persons with disability and severity levels of disability should be considered; the different types of assistive devices should be supplied according to rehabilitation goals at different age group; and necessary assistive devices should be provided according to severity levels of disability.

Key words: assistive devices, needs assessments, subsidy policy