Megatrends in rehabilitation: a Canadian perspective

Abstract

In this article, based on a presentation to the New Zealand Rehabilitation Association, the author identifies and discusses seven 'megatrends' which are expected to shape the future of rehabilitation services and the quality of life enjoyed by people with disabilities. They include changes in the demography of disability, the empowerment of disabled people, the policy of integration and the rising cost of health and social-services. Also considered are changes in models of rehabilitation service delivery, the role of assistive technology and the shift from empiricism to applied rehabilitation science.