Abstract: "12th Five-year Plan" period is critical to build China social security and disabled service systems. Assistive devices researchas an important technical support for the systems faces a very difficult task. Relevant departments and associations need to play a role on theassistive devices research. Co-ordination and to strengthen macro-coordination, related research institutions, enterprises and so on need tofurther understand the China's basic situation and the main task of the current research work. The paper discussed the basic task of assistivedevices research based on the work policies and demand.

Key words: assistive devices, research and development, situation and task