Adapting linking rules to the international classification of functioning as a method for representing assistive technology knowledge

Objective. To propose a scheme which uses the International Classification of functioning to represent tasks and subtasks in everyday activity. This scheme must also allow for the use of Assistive Technology intervention Main Content. This work concerns itself with the possible use of the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning (ICF) as a basis for representing a conceptual model of Assistive Technology Systems. It investigates how Assistive Technology Systems' knowledge may be bound to elements of the ICF classification using an enhancement of the linking rules which govern the process of linking technical and clinical measures, health-status measures and interventions to the International Classification of Functioning. It uses case structure grammar constructs to allow for different instances of the same ICF codes in subtasks of everyday activities. Results and Outcomes. A scheme to represent activity is presented which extends Ciezas et al's rules for documenting additional information when using the ICF. It puts structure on this additional information using elements from Fillmores case structure grammar. It allows for the use of Assistive Technology interventions to be recorded using the instrument field of the grammar.