AT Impact Framework

A multi-level conceptual framework for evaluating the impact of assistive technology interventions on quality of life, developed from longitudinal research with smartphone users with sensory disabilities in Kenya. ATIF is structured across three ecological levels: Self (microsystem) — capturing individual outcomes like independence, agency, and self-efficacy; Community (mesosystem) — capturing changes in social interactions, family dynamics, and peer support; and Society (macrosystem) — capturing broader effects on employment, economic participation, and institutional engagement. The framework emphasizes that AT impact creates ripple effects across these layers.