Technology and Disability

This article outlines assistive technology (A/T)-related research and development (R&D) resources in the US Federal Government. Readers will find guidelines to these resources including Internet World Wide Websites (WWW) addresses and other references for 12 Federal departments and organizations, including their respective agencies and programs. Also, there are guidelines that outline two interdepartmental programs and one organization with members drawn from multiple federal agencies. These guidelines identify opportunities for AT-related R&D activities in the programs and agencies of each department/organization. An Internet webmap table summaries the key www addresses identified. Readers will discover how agency program technology and/or the application connections relate to A/T-related R&D activities for addressing the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. The author formulates a definition to follow for A/T-related R&D that entails the development, evaluation, technology transfer and/or commercialization of technologies and applications for devices that increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities through scientific, engineering and/or entrepreneurial research activities of agency programs.

Products in the field of assistive technology are transferred from manufacture to end-user through a network of designers, manufacturers, marketers, distributors, academics, clinicians and consumers. This article highlights the path through a variety of industry networks, such as trade and professional associations, publications and conferences.

Historically, rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology practitioners have received inconsistent pre-professional training. A survey of current post-secondary professional curricula reveals several facets of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology educational models that remain diverse. Suggestions for improvement and standardization of educational curricula are given based on the body of literature related to pre-professional education of practitioners, as well as anticipated certification and accreditation efforts by the field's principal credentialing body.

Professional organizations help members keep current on latest research in their fields, providing opportunities for further education, professional development and networking. This article gives an overview of organizations useful to professionals in the field of assistive technology.

Certification programs are being developed in many sectors to provide competency recognition. However, a careful and comprehensive credentialing program must take many factors into account. Assistive technology service delivery providers now have a method for demonstrating their knowledge through RESNA's credentialing program. RESNA's two certifications, one for Assistive Technology Provider and the other for Assistive Technology Supplier, are highlighted here, along with a history of the development of the program and the issues considered in order to make any such program viable.

This document summarizes the results of surveys of 40 major national disability organizations to determine their involvement with the development, distribution, evaluation, consumer testing, information dissemination, or sponsorship of assistive technology devices. In order to provide a practical guide for researchers, potential corporate partners, and others in the assistive technology field, the entries include the organizations' publicity and information channels, and preferred avenues of contact. Additionally, some details on their overall missions and primary service constituencies provides a more complete picture of each organization. (Note: this article does not cover government organizations which have disability services, nor corporations which develop or distribute assistive equipment, as they are discussed in other articles in this publication.)

In Canada, there is a growing trend toward the use of assistive technology to increase the participation of people with disabilities in the community at large. Assistive technology alone cannot accomplish this goal of full participation, however. The standards and legislative arenas, and the establishment of cooperative initiatives between community-based organizations and Federal or provincial governments also have roles to play in enabling this participation. This article will delineate some of the resources, initiatives and agencies that come into play so that, through the use of assistive technology, the participation of Canadians with disabilities is encouraged and increased in all aspects of the daily life of the community.