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Wireless Technologies and Accessibility for People With Disabilities: Findings From a Policy Research Instrument
Abstract
The near universal deployment in the United States of a wide variety of information and communications technologies, both wired and wireless, creates potential barriers to use for several key populations, including the poor, people with disabilities, and the aging. Equal access to wireless technologies and services can be achieved through a variety of mechanisms, including legislation and regulations, market-based solutions, and awareness and outreach-based approaches. This article discusses the results of policy research conducted by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) using policy Delphi polling methodology to probe stakeholders' opinions on key access barrier issues and to explore potential policy responses. Participants included disability advocates, disability/wireless technology policy makers, and product developers/manufacturers. Respondent input informed subsequent development of potential policy initiatives to increase access to these technologies. The findings from the Delphi suggest that awareness issues remain most important, especially manufacturer awareness of user needs and availability of consumer information for selecting the most appropriate wireless devices and services. Other key issues included the ability of people with disabilities to afford technologies and inadequacies in legislation and policy making for ensuring their general accessibility, as well as usefulness in emergencies. Technical issues, including interoperability, speech-to-text conversion, and hearing aid compatibility, were also identified by participating stakeholders as important. To address all these issues, Delphi respondents favored goals and options congruent with voluntary market-driven solutions where possible but also supported federal involvement, where necessary, to aid this process.
... Access may be limited, however, by a general lack of awareness of technologies or access options, as well as economic, technological, and regulatory restrictions. For individuals with disabilities, equal access to accessible content, services information, and telecommunications technologies remains a major concern despite the existence of widely promulgated standards for web access (Baker and Moon, 2008;Baker et al., 2009;Klein et al., 2003;Myhill et al., 2008). ...
... While studies are beginning to appear on the use of the Internet and Internet related information technologies (e.g., Bradley and Poppen, 2003;Finn, 1999;Grimaldi and Goette, 1999;Guo et al., 2005;Seymour and Lupton, 2004), the landscape of the disability divide is just coning clear (Dobransky and Hargittai, 2006;Jaeger and Xie, 2009). Barriers such as cost, accessibility, awareness, and basic interest, have replaced earlier divide issues related to basic access (Baker and Moon, 2008;. ...
Communication-oriented Internet technologies and activities such as social media sites and blogs, have become an important component of community and employment participation, not just in the specific function of activities, but as a link to larger communities of practice and professional connections. The occurrence of these activities, evident in their presence on Facebook, LinkedIn and other online communities, represents an important opportunity to reframe and re-conceptualize manifestation of communities especially those in which distributed networks and communities substitute for geographic proximity, offering new opportunities for engagement, especially those who might be functionally limited in terms of mobility.
For people with disabilities, as well as the aging, increasingly interacting online, the readiness of social networking sites to accommodate their desire to participate in conjunction with their readiness as users to maximize the potential of platform interfaces and architecture, are critical to achieving the medium’s potential for enhancing community and employment benefits. This essay explores representation/presence of disability and aging using as frames, Facebook and LinkedIn groups. Target identity/member groups on Facebook and LinkedIn were cataloged to explore the presence and representation of disability and aging identities in a socially networked setting.
The groups for this study were identified using the search feature designed into the platform architecture, which allow a user to search on specifically designated entities or keywords. Findings suggest that from a policy perspective, institutions need to be cognizant of population characteristics as well as platform opportunities implementing advocacy and relevant support services for people with disabilities and older adults to full ensure engagement and participation.
... Bricout, Baker, Ward & Moon (2011) refer to this phenomenon as the 'disability divide,' stating that the development and implementation of policies to address this situation is the most effective solution. Access to technology for the disabled is a significant issue, including affordability and general accessibility for the blind, deaf and those with other forms of disability (Baker & Moon 2008;Davison & Cotton, 2010). However, significant recent growth in new universal assistive tools and technologies (e.g. ...
People with disabilities face unique challenges to access work and participate in a work culture and environment. The increasing uptake of telework is promising from a digital inclusion perspective for people with disabilities. This qualitative study explored barriers and problems of including people with disabilities through telework in Australia. The study focused on management and worker perspectives and findings indicate that both parties face unique challenges to accommodate and include people with disabilities in telework arrangements. Worker barriers to access telework relate to management attitudes, physical and infrastructure problems, social isolation misconceptions, lack of management trust, insufficient telework opportunities and inadequate management knowledge of IT support and reasonable adjustment for people with disabilities. Management issues involve cultural intolerance towards diversity and disability in general, as well as a lack of policies and processes that create a supportive environment for people with disabilities who wish to telework.
... Bricout, Baker, Ward & Moon (2011) refer to this phenomenon as the 'disability divide,' stating that the development and implementation of policies to address this situation is the most effective solution. Access to technology for the disabled is a significant issue, including affordability and general accessibility for the blind, deaf and those with other forms of disability (Baker & Moon 2008;Davison & Cotton, 2010). However, significant recent growth in new universal assistive tools and technologies (e.g. ...
People with disabilities face unique challenges accessing and participating in work. From a digital inclusion perspective, an uptake of anywhere working arrangements may hold significant promise for people with disabilities. This qualitative study explored barriers of flexible work for people with disabilities in Australia. The study focused on manager and worker perspectives and findings indicate that both parties face unique challenges to accommodate people with disabilities in flexible work. Barriers encountered by disabled workers seeking access to flexible working arrangements include management attitudes, physical and infrastructure problems, social isolation misconceptions, insufficient flexible work opportunities, and inadequate management knowledge of IT support and reasonable adjustment for people with disabilities. Management issues involve cultural intolerance towards diversity and disability in general, as well as lack of policies and processes that create a supportive environment for people with disabilities who wish to engage in flexible working arrangements.
... The creators of the first wave of smart phones may not have incorporated accessibility as a driving factor of design, a condition which was addressed via policymaking and regulatory interventions, and subsequently is part of the current development approach. (Baker & Bellordre, 2004;Baker & Moon, 2008;Mitchell et al., 2004). In fact, developers of wearable technology are increasingly taking into account accessibility and usability, and consequently, enhancing a wearable device's use as assistive technology (Oliver, 2017). ...
Wearable technology has the potential to usher in a new wave of assistive technology. Many
wearable devices are already being used by people with disabilities as assistive technology.
Here we discuss how designers might use design considerations and body maps to make sure that the wearable devices they are creating are accessible to everyone. The hope is that, with a thoughtful process, new wearable technology can also act seamlessly as assistive technology.
... Special education technology research and development have directly have an impact on public policy as manifested in the influence of research on wireless technologies, high stakes-testing accommodations, assistive technology and employment of individuals with disabilities (Baker and Moon, 2008;Bolt and Thurlow, 2004;Mendelsohn, Edyburn, Rust, et al., 2008). The Ministry of Education strives to spread technology in schools. ...
The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore special education teachers’ attitudes towards using technology in inclusive classrooms in Oman. The sample consisted of 428 special education teachers working in Omani public schools (250 teachers of students with learning disabilities (LD), 90 teachers of students with intellectual disability and 88 teachers of students with hearing impairment). Participants responded to the attitudes towards computers questionnaire. For the qualitative section of this study, three semi-structured group interviews were conducted with a group of special education teachers: 15 teachers of students with hearing impairment, 15 teachers of students with intellectual disabilities and 15 teachers of students with LD). Also, the teachers responded to a survey of educational technology which encompassed seven questions about computer technology. Results of the study indicated that the special education teachers’ attitudes towards using computers were generally positive. The most notable positive attitudes were in the following subscales: special education considerations, staff development considerations, computers use in society, and computers and quality of instruction issues. The analysis of variance results showed that experience and type of disability did not have a significant effect on teachers’ attitudes towards technology.
... Bricout, Baker, Ward & Moon (2011) refer to this phenomenon as the 'disability divide,' stating that the development and implementation of policies to address this situation is the most effective solution. Access to technology for the disabled is a significant issue, including affordability and general accessibility for the blind, deaf and those with other forms of disability (Baker & Moon 2008;Davison & Cotton, 2010). However, significant recent growth in new universal assistive tools and technologies (e.g. ...
... Policy researchers have increasingly directed attention toward issues associated with the development of technology, particularly when emerging technologies are applied to health, disability, aging, and assistive technology (Baker & Moon, 2008;Shinohara & Wobbrock, 2011;Harte et al., 2014). Public policy is all too frequently seen as a barrier to development, but a more nuanced take is that it provides an opportunity to highlight the factors that can influence, and increase the accessibility of the design of technology. ...
The rapidly expanding market for wearable computing devices (wearables), driven by advances in information and communication technologies (ICT), wireless access, and public acceptance of a design aesthetic, is indicative of the near limitless potential for changing the relationship of users to information context(s). As the adoption of wearable devices spreads, there are cultural and social impacts that represent both barriers and opportunities, with subsequent policy ramifications. All too often designers, technologists, and policymakers operate independently developing products that are out of sync, lack interoperability, or are hindered by well meaning, but obstructive policy. This paper proposes a futures-based, iterative policy-informed design framework for developing wearable devices that guides interdisciplinary collaborators early in the process of designing a research & development plan. This approach allows for the development of “images of the future” through which various potential implications and effects of device design in social, technological, and regulatory contexts can be explored.
... The user is able to define preference sets, share preferences with other users, store them in the cloud and finally activate user adaptations. Additionally, the user interface provided by the tool is designed and implemented in order to be accessible and meet the personal preferences and requirements of the users [11], [12], [13]. This interface adaptation ensures not only that the user interface is accessible to the user but also easy and comfortable to use. ...
Recent advances in cloud computing and ubiquitous computing have changed the computing paradigm rapidly. Cloud computing is the computing that relies on a large pool of systems interconnected in private or public networks to deliver computing resources like services and data. Nowadays, there is no need of having local servers or personal devices to handle applications and data. Access to these resources for everyone and anywhere has become a necessity. Moreover, the evolution of ubiquitous computing combined with cloud computing implies the development of personalized services and applications considering the user preferences in order to provide an appropriate user interface anywhere anytime. However, the user interfaces so far are not conforming to the needs of people and especially those with disabilities or elderly. The paper introduces an accessible tool for declaring and managing user preferences that participate in personalization implementation in cloud computing environment. The proposed tool focuses mostly on elderly and people with disabilities and helps the users to build preference sets in order to improve access efficiency.
... The proposed mobile application implements the autopersonalization from user needs and preferences functionality. Additionally, the user interface provided by the application is designed and implemented in order to be accessible [11], [12], [13] from elderly, vision impaired users and everyone else. Moreover, it adapts user interface (UI) to fit the user's requirements. ...
The rapidly growth of mobile computing in combination with the advances of the internet has changed the computing world in a drastic way. It has traveled from the concept of parallel computing to distributed computing to grid computing and recently to cloud computing. Cloud computing is the computing that provides IT resources like services and applications with the use of Internet. Access to these resources for everyone and anywhere has become a necessity. However, the user interfaces so far are not conforming to the needs of people with disabilities or elderly. Additionally, the rise of mobile devices and ubiquitous computing results in services and applications with automatic personalization regarding user needs and preferences. The paper introduces a mobile application that participates in automatic personalization implementation in cloud computing environment. The application is accessible from elderly, people with disabilities and the general population.
... Additional research eff orts could be directed at upgrading the technology so as to reduce the dimensions of its diff erent components and make their programming easier and less time costly (Baker & Moon, 2008;Lancioni, et al., 2010c;Malinowsky, Almkvist, Kottorp, & Nygrd, 2010). ...
This paper represents a brief, selective review of technology-aided programs for persons with severe/profound and multiple disabilities. Specifically, the paper provides detailed summaries of a number of illustrative studies conducted by these authors for the assessment of (a) microswitch-based programs aimed at promoting response engagement and control of environmental stimulation, (b) speech-generating devices and computer-aided programs directed at promoting communication and stimulus choice, (c) orientation technology solutions for promoting indoor travel, and (d) visual- and verbal-instruction technology for promoting performance of complex, multi-step tasks. The studies included in the review provide a specific picture of the technological instruments adopted within the programs, of the participants involved, and of the outcomes obtained. Questions of practical importance left unanswered by those studies and others in the field are also discussed as possible targets of new research.
... One may also expand the number of specific options/events included in relation to each stimulus category. The messaging technology system used in the studies summarized can be considered a basic version of a more sophisticated and compact (easily portable) system to be designed (Baker & Moon, 2008;Lancioni et al., 2011). Such new system could probably be developed without substantially increasing the general costs of the present technology. ...
When the authors talk about Assistive Technology (AT) they refer to all technological solutions that allow persons with multiple disabilities and profound cognitive disability to overcome their isolation and passivity to move around their environment, communicate with others, and to be involved developmentally in appropriate activities that they would be unable to do without this technology. There is an increasing range of AT available and the purpose of this contribution is to provide an overview of different aspects of daily living AT that enables people with multiple disabilities to interact independently with their preferred stimuli. The aim of this chapter is to provide an outline of technological resources used in rehabilitation research with persons with severe/profound and multiple disabilities and discuss the use of such resources. We focus on particular rehabilitation programs that involve the use of technological devices within the framework of conventional behavioral intervention for the acquisition and the maintenance of specific responses.
... It can allow developers to build more flexibility and options into their products and have some confidence that users will actually find and use them. Previous research (Baker and Moon, 2008) has shown that today, even when companies provide built-in access features they are rarely known and used. ...
In an increasing digital society, access to information and communication technologies (ICT) is no longer just helpful but has become a necessity. However, the human interfaces appearing on these ICT (and increasingly, even common household products) are beyond of the abilities of many people with disability, digital literacy, or aging related limitations. Access to these ICT is essential to these individuals yet it is not possible to create an interface that is usable by all. This paper introduces a new approach to auto-personalization that is based on the development of the Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure (GPII). The GPII is a new international collaborative effort between users, developers and industry to build a sustainable infrastructure to make access to all digital technologies technically and economically possible, including access by users who are unable to use or understand today’s technologies. Based on a one-size-fits-one approach, the GPII uses auto-adapting mainstream interfaces, and ubiquitous access to assistive technologies when mainstream interfaces cannot adapt enough, to provide each user with the interface they need. The GPII has three main components: a mechanism to allow individuals to easily discover which interface variations they need and then store it in a secure way on a token or in the cloud; a mechanism to allow them to use these stored needs and preferences to automatically adapt the interfaces on the digital technologies they encounter, anywhere and anytime; and a resource for developers (mainstream and assistive technology) providing the information and tools required to develop, disseminate, and support new access solutions more simply, more quickly, and at lower cost.
... With regard to the second point, one might envisage ways of packaging the technology in a convenient/compact manner so that it can be easily carried by the participant on his or her wheelchair or through a small bag fixed at his or her waist or across the shoulders (Baker & Moon, 2008;De Joode, van Heugten, Verhey, & van Boxtel, 2010;Kagohara, 2011;Looi et al., 2010). Ensuring portability would (a) allow the participants to have the technology with them on a relatively regular basis (rather than during specific sessions) and (b) make the technology available not only for placing phone calls but also for receiving them (Lancioni et al., in press;Yang et al., 2008;Yuan, Archer, Connelly, & Zheng, 2010). ...
Recent literature has shown the possibility of enabling individuals with multiple disabilities to make telephone calls independently via computer-aided telephone technology. These two case studies assessed a modified version of such technology and a commercial alternative to it for a woman and a man with multiple disabilities, respectively. The modified version used in Study 1 (a) presented the names of the persons available for a call and (b) reminded the participant of the response she needed to perform (i.e., pressing a microswitch) if she wanted to call any of those names/persons. The commercial device used in Study 2 was a Galaxy S3 (Samsung) equipped with the S-voice module, which allowed the participant to activate phone calls by uttering the word "Call" followed by the name of the persons he wanted to call. The results of the studies showed that the participants learned to make phone calls independently using the technology/device available. Implications of the results are discussed.
... customer tailored) assistive technologies will be required, depending on participants' characteristics (i.e. behavioral repertoire) and on rehabilitative goals (Baker & Moon, 2008;Chantry & Dunford, 2010;Reichle, 2011;Shih, 2011). ...
... Children who present extensive motor impairments and lack of speech, or conventional communication, could be confined in a restrict context with (a) a large dependence on caregivers mediation to access to preferred items, and (b) few possibilities to advance to basic form of social interaction. In fact, they are precluded to request and choose preferred stimuli autonomously, due to their condition and thus, they need some form of assistive technology to enhance positive interactions with the aforementioned sources (Baker & Moon, 2008;Borg, Larson, & Ostergren, 2011;. ...
Background:
Post-coma persons with multiple disabilities may represent a challenge to rehabilitation centers, due to their clinical conditions. Moreover, they can failed to engage adaptive responses aimed at the self-management of environmental stimuli.
Objectives:
To assess the impact and social rating of a new assistive technology set-up for promoting constructive engagement by two post-coma boys emerged from a minimal conscious state.
Method:
During baseline sessions, the participants were provided with a mouse to manage the computer system. During intervention phases, a new technology was implemented, allowing both participants to manage environmental stimuli with a microswitch instead of the mouse. Furthermore, a social validation assessment was carried out, involving students as raters.
Results:
Data showed an increasing of constructive engagement by both participants during intervention phases. Sixty psychology students (social raters) favoured the new technology on a six items questionnaire (i.e. enjoyment, suitability, rehabilitation, independence, daily context and support).
Conclusions:
The new technology was suitable, affordable, effective and socially preferable.
... New mobile phone features might create new technological barriers for people with disabilities (Gregor et al., 2005). The Delphi research (Baker et al., 2008) suggested that the key issues for wireless technologies are manufacturer awareness of user needs, availability of consumer information to select the most appropriate wireless devices and services, and policymaking to ensure general accessibility. Our examination of smart device digital literacy will likely promote future studies of smart device digital literacy. ...
This study compares the digital literacy of people with and without disabilities in Korea, using data from the 2011 Information Divide Index Data of the National Information Society Agency (NIA). We extracted Internet and smart device users from the NIA samples and examined the main effects of disability, gender and age, as well as their interaction effects on Internet and smart device use and production literacy. Of the 1500 public individuals examined, 1190 (79.3%) were Internet users and 535 (35.7%) were smart device users. Of the 5300 with disabilities, 2110 (63.9%) were Internet users and 324 (8.8%) were smart device users. Generalized linear modelling showed significant main effects of disability, gender, age and education on Internet use and production literacy. The disability × age and disability × education interaction effects on Internet use literacy were statistically significant. We also observed a significant disability × age interaction effect on Internet production literacy. However, the main and interaction effects of disability, gender and education on smart device use and production literacy were not significant.
... 39 Usability of wireless devices is limited by interface issues such as speech to text conversion and hearing aid compatibility. 40 As new touchscreen devices become more widely adopted, the possibilities of global connectivity and equality of access to information are increasingly apparent. Yet, device developers initially invested little attention to accessibility modifications. ...
... The data for the development of the IVI was gathered using a modified Delphi technique. The Delphi technique was developed by the RAND Corporation in the 1960s [18] and has evolved to utilize an iterative survey process for groups of experts to reach consensus around issues of importance [19,20]. Consensus is obtained through a series of iterative surveys, or rounds, in which a panel of experts in a specific content area reach agreement about the topic at hand. ...
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities experience rates of interpersonal violence much higher than those in the general population. Not only do they face physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse, they also face additional forms of interpersonal violence specific to their disability and care. While rates of interpersonal violence experienced by people with disabilities exist in the literature, measurement of these rates has been widely divergent across the field of disabilities. Currently, there are no-known evidence-based measures of interpersonal violence for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This article describes the development of an assessment tool, the Interpersonal Violence Interview (IVI), to measure the number of incidents of interpersonal violence against people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. A Delphi technique was used in the development of the tool in order to reach consensus regarding the content of the assessment. The results show the IVI is a promising first step towards the development of an evidence-based measure of interpersonal violence for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
... In conclusion, the present study has shown that a new verbal-instruction system was effective in helping a woman manage a series of complex food-and drink-preparation tasks. New research may (a) try to replicate and extend the evidence available by exposing new individuals with similar problems to the reported treatment and technology and (b) assess technology variations such as that suggested earlier (i.e., linking to the participant leaving the second table the instructions now based on time criteria; Baker & Moon, 2008;Barlow et al., 2009;Lancioni et al., 2009). An additional research issue may concern a social validation assessment of the technology and its effects, which may be carried out by interviewing staff personnel not connected with this study and managers of services for persons with multiple disabilities (Callahan, Henson, & Cowan, 2008). ...
A new verbal-instruction system, which ensured the presentation of step instructions automatically, was used to help a woman with moderate intellectual disability and blindness perform food- and drink-preparation tasks. During Part I of the study, this system was compared with a system requiring the woman to seek instructions on her own. Two tasks were used, one with each system. During Part II of the study, the new system was applied with four additional tasks. The results of Part I showed the following: (a) the woman’s level of correct performance on the task carried out with the new system was higher than the level on the other task and (b) performance of this latter task improved when the new system was used with it. The results of Part II showed satisfactory performance with all four tasks carried out with the new system. The implications of these data were discussed.
... The technology allowed various forms of object manipulation to serve as adaptive responses and monitored a precursor of the inappropriate behavior to reduce the complexity or invasiveness of the devices on the participants (Baker & Moon, 2008). Targeting object-manipulation responses may be considered particularly important with children with visual impairments. ...
... As a result, manufacturers are beginning to address the needs of users with physical challenges through various accessibility options (e.g. speech recognition, text-tospeech, screen magnification) [13,14]. Research into the use of mainstream mobile technologies by individuals with disabilities living in the community has identified ongoing barriers to functional daily use; however, it is not clear to what extent these barriers exist and are being addressed during inpatient rehabilitation [13,15]. ...
Purpose:
To understand individuals' perceptions of technology use during inpatient rehabilitation.
Method:
A qualitative phenomenological study using semi-structured interviews of 10 individuals with diverse underlying diagnoses and/or a close family member who participated in inpatient rehabilitation.
Results:
Core themes focused on assistive technology usage (equipment set-up, reliability and fragility of equipment, expertise required to use assistive technology and use of mainstream technologies) and opportunities for using technology to increase therapeutic engagement (opportunities for practice outside of therapy, goals for therapeutic exercises and technology for therapeutic exercises: motivation and social interaction).
Conclusion:
Interviews revealed the need for durable, reliable and intuitive technology without requiring a high level of expertise to install and implement. A strong desire for the continued use of mainstream devices (e.g. cell phones, tablet computers) reinforces the need for a wider range of access options for those with limited physical function. Finally, opportunities to engage in therapeutically meaningful activities beyond the traditional treatment hours were identified as valuable for patients to not only improve function but to also promote social interaction.
Implications for rehabilitation:
Assistive technology increases functional independence of severely disabled individuals. End-users (patients and families) identified a need for designs that are durable, reliable, intuitive, easy to consistently install and use. Technology use (adaptive or commercially available) provides a mechanism to extend therapeutic practice beyond the traditional therapy day. Adapting skeletal tracking technology used in gaming software could automate exercise tracking, documentation and feedback for patient motivation and clinical treatment planning and interventions.
... Access may be limited, however, by a general lack of awareness of technologies or access options, as well as economic, technological, and regulatory restrictions. For individuals with disabilities, equal access to accessible content, services information, and telecommunications technologies remains a major concern despite the existence of widely promulgated standards for web access (Baker & Moon, 2008; Baker, Hanson, & Myhill, 2009; Klein, Myhill, Hansen, Asby, Michaelson & Blanck, 2003; Myhill, Cogburn, Samant, Addom & Blanck,2008). In the U.S., a variety of barriers exist to the full technological participation of people with disabilities, and it has been only relatively recently (2007) for instance, that websites were explicitly recognized as issues of concern. ...
Communication-oriented Internet technologies and activities such as social media sites and blogs, have become an important component of community and employment participation, not just in the specific function of activities, but as a link to larger communities of practice and professional connections. The occurrence of these activities, evident in their presence on Facebook, LinkedIn and other online communities, represents an important opportunity to reframe and re-conceptualize manifestation of communities especially those in which distributed networks and communities substitute for geographic proximity, offering new opportunities for engagement, especially those who might be functionally limited in terms of mobility. For people with disabilities, as well as the aging, increasingly interacting online, the readiness of social networking sites to accommodate their desire to participate, in conjunction with their readiness as users to maximize the potential of platform interfaces and architecture, are critical to achieving the medium’s potential for enhancing community and employment benefits. This paper explores representation/presence of disability and aging using as frames, Facebook and LinkedIn groups. Target identity/member groups on Facebook and LinkedIn were catalogued to explore the presence and representation of disability and aging identities in a socially networked setting. The groups for this study were identified using the search feature designed into the platform architecture, which allow a user to search on specifically designated entities or keywords. Findings suggest that from a policy perspective, institutions need to be cognizant of population characteristics as well as platform opportunities implementing advocacy and relevant support services for people with disabilities and older adults to full ensure engagement and participation.
Purpose:
The objectives of this study(1) were threefold: to identify the main topics related to the international debate on Assistive Technology (AT) public policies, to analyze the Brazilian case in light of these topics, and to extract lessons that could be applied in Brazil and other countries to advance progress in the field.
Methodology:
A qualitative study was conducted through a critical literature review, involving the search for, selection, and analysis of articles indexed in two information source portals and four databases from 2007 to 2023. International and Brazilian laws, reports, and other publications specifically related to AT policies were also included.
Results:
The analysis of 186 articles and Brazilian documents facilitated the examination of four themes: AT policies from a human rights perspective, public procurement, service delivery systems, and national plans. A subset of 107 publications was then selected for detailed analysis.
Discussion:
Initiatives such as implementing a national plan, establishing an AT research center, and creating a product catalog are considered virtuous. Enhancing the freedom of choice for products and developing public procurement mechanisms are identified as additional strategies to reinforce protections of human rights in Brazil.
Conclusions:
Policy dynamics and national and international experiences suggest the potential for expanding initiatives and creating new solutions in Brazil. Universities and other scientific institutions emerge as promising loci for generating new knowledge to support the formulation of AT policies and facilitate their debate and further development.
People with disabilities face unique challenges to access work and participate in a work culture and environment. The increasing uptake of telework is promising from a digital inclusion perspective for people with disabilities. This qualitative study explored barriers and problems of including people with disabilities through telework in Australia. The study focused on management and worker perspectives and findings indicate that both parties face unique challenges to accommodate and include people with disabilities in telework arrangements. Worker barriers to access telework relate to management attitudes, physical and infrastructure problems, social isolation misconceptions, lack of management trust, insufficient telework opportunities and inadequate management knowledge of IT support and reasonable adjustment for people with disabilities. Management issues involve cultural intolerance towards diversity and disability in general, as well as a lack of policies and processes that create a supportive environment for people with disabilities who wish to telework.
Background:
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is connected with every aspect of social, cultural, economic, educational, and commercial activity. Smart devices in particular have changed society and are necessary goods for modern people. Smart device usage is rapidly growing in everyday life, so the ability to use a smart device is increasingly important, yet there is little data supporting increased digital inclusion of people with disabilities in mobile device use.
Objective/hypothesis:
This study investigates the effects of the smart environment on the information divide experienced by people with disabilities.
Methods:
Data from the 2013 Information Divide Index Data of the National Information Society Agency was analyzed regarding three aspects: access, skill, and competence. The accessibility difference was investigated by comparing access to a PC or smart device in two groups. The effects of a smart environment on the information divide were analyzed using General Linear Modeling (GLM).
Results:
The access rate was higher for the general group than for that of those with disabilities, and this difference appeared to be greater in the smart environment. The results of the GLM showed that disability and device access had statistically significant effects on skill and all aspects of competence.
Conclusions:
These results provide evidence that the smart environment further creates the information divide for people with disabilities. Strategies should be formed to reduce this divide, particularly within smart environments.
This chapter provides an overview of studies assessing the use of orientation systems to help persons with severe/profound and multiple disabilities (including persons with Alzheimer’s disease) travel to indoor destinations independently. The first part of this chapter analyzes the studies that used orientation systems relying on direction cues. The studies were divided based on the types of cues employed, that is, auditory (buzzer-like) sounds, verbal messages (without and with procedural extensions), and visual cues. The second part of this chapter analyzes the few studies that used orientation systems relying on corrective feedback. The final part of this chapter analyzes the outcomes of the studies reviewed and their implications for daily programs, examines practical aspects concerning the use of the systems, and suggests questions for new research in the area.
This chapter provides an overview of studies assessing the use of technology to enable individuals with severe/profound and multiple disabilities to learn to write, engage in occupational and vocational activities, and access leisure activities. The first part of this chapter analyzes studies that used technology solutions to enable writing by individuals who could not use standard implements such as pens and standard computer keyboards because of their multiple disabilities. The second part of this chapter analyzes studies that used technology to teach individuals to engage in occupational and vocational tasks. These studies used a variety of technology aids as instruction cues, including picture prompts, object or tactile prompts, self-operated audio prompts, self-instruction prompts, video modeling and video prompts, palmtop-based job aids, and electronic control devices. The third part of this chapter analyzes studies on leisure skills that used technology to provide individuals access to different classes of leisure activities, that is, technology that enabled them to access a variety of preferred stimulation and taught them to operate standard or adapted leisure modalities (e.g., radio, television, portable media player, and a computer for e-mail) and an electronic messaging system. The final part of this chapter summarizes the overall outcomes, discusses practical aspects of using technology, and briefly highlights areas for further research in each of these areas.
The policy Delphi is a method that uses iterative stages of data collection to reveal positions on an issue within a panel of people with relevant knowledge. Policy Delphi surveys have become popular in a variety of disciplines since the method was first proposed in this journal in 1970. In this paper, we benchmark the state-of-the-art in policy Delphi methods, focusing on strengths and limitations, and on innovative ways of addressing key shortcomings. We report findings from a systematic review of 63 empirical studies conducted between 1971 and the end of 2014 that used the policy Delphi method. We found little consistency in how studies have been designed and executed. The inherent flexibility of the method is a strength, but a lack of consistency in how it is used undermines the ability of analysts to generate accessible insights. Specifically, our analysis reveals limited use of validity and reliability tests, a blurring of conventional and policy Delphi rationales, diverse data collection and analysis techniques, and mixed quality when reporting the approach, format, and results for individual studies. Indeed, potential new users of the method will struggle to understand what a policy Delphi survey actually is. We conclude with advice for addressing key shortcomings in current policy Delphi practice.
This study extends the use of microswitch technology for a man with acquired brain injury and pervasive/multiple disabilities, who had previously been involved in microswitch-mediated programs aimed at promoting adaptive behavior (i.e., object manipulation and head upright). The objectives of this study were (a) to restore the adaptive level obtained in previous programs, but with the use of a more elaborate object manipulation response, (b) extend the adaptive behavior so as to include the presence of eyes open, and (c) establish a new form of practically useful adaptive response, namely, independent drinking. The results showed that the participant improved his adaptive behavior to a level at which (a) virtually all object manipulation responses occurred in combination with head upright and eyes open, (b) the time with head upright and eyes open covered nearly the entire duration of the sessions, and (c) the drinking responses were largely consistent. The implications of the findings are discussed.Multiple disabilities. © 2012 Associazione Oasi Maria SS. - IRCCS / Città Aperta EdizioniNeural plasticity.
The present two single-case studies assessed the use of automatic prompting/encouragement with two adults with extensive multiple disabilities. In both studies, the prompt/encouragement events consisted of one- or two-word statements that followed the stimulation occurring contingent on the activity responses during the intervention phases of the study. Stimulation and prompt/encouragement events were regulated through a technology-aided program. Study I involved an ABCACABC sequence, in which A represented baseline phases, B intervention phases with stimulation contingent on activity responses, and C intervention phases with stimulation and prompt/encouragement statements. Study II involved a CBC sequence. The results of both studies showed improvements in the participants' performance during the C phases (i.e., the length of the sessions decreased and virtually no guidance from the research assistants was required). Implications of the findings were discussed.
The field of special education technology is devoted to a variety of activities that ultimately serve to augment, bypass, or compensate for a disability. Much like a kaleidoscope, perceptions of the field may be viewed through the reflection of multiple lenses. The three lenses of innovation, policy, and theory provide a mechanism for filtering, viewing, and using the special education technology research and practice knowledge base. This article examines characteristics of the emerging special education technology knowledge base when viewed through each of the three lenses. The intent is to provide readers with an analysis of qualities found in the emerging special education knowledge base in order to highlight critical issues needed to advance the evidence base of the field through future research, theory, development, policy, and practice.
The present single-case studies assessed the effectiveness of technology-aided programs to help two persons with multiple disabilities exercise adaptive response schemes independently. In Study I, exercise concerned head movements (i.e., head and neck posture/muscle control) by a 12-year-old girl who tended to keep her head turned/bent to her left. In Study II, exercise concerned touching one or two object cues on a computer monitor (i.e., a preliminary form of hand-eye coordination) by a 15-year-old boy. The technology involved microswitches to detect the occurrence of the target responses and a computer/control system to record their occurrences and activate preferred stimuli contingent on them. Results showed large increases in the responses targeted for each of the two participants during the intervention phases of the studies. The importance of using technology-aided programs as tools for enabling persons with profound and multiple disabilities to practice relevant responses independently was discussed.
This single case study was an effort to assess a technology-based program aimed at promoting independent television use by a man with acquired brain injury and multiple disabilities. The technology’s main components were: (a) two microswitches, which allowed the man to request and confirm/trigger with small responses basic television operations (i.e., switching the television on or off and changing channels), and (b) an electronic control unit with an amplified MP3 player, which helped the man with verbal instructions and the execution of the television operations. Results showed that the technology-based program succeeded in enabling the man to manage television use independently. Different amounts of time dedicated to various television programs suggested that the man had different levels of interest for them and could choose among them.
A variety of technology-aided programs have been developed to help persons with congenital or acquired multiple disabilities access preferred stimuli or choose among stimulus options. The application of those programs may pose problems when the participants have very limited behavior repertoires and are unable to use conventional responses and microswitches. The present two studies assessed non-conventional response-microswitch solutions for three of those participants. Study I included two participants who were exposed to a program in which forehead skin movement was the response required to access preferred stimulation. The microswitch was an optic sensor combined with a small black sticker on the forehead. Study II included one participant who was exposed to a program in which a smile response was required to choose among stimuli. The microswitch for monitoring the smile was a new camera-based technology. The results of the two studies showed that the response-microswitch solutions were suitable for the participants and enabled them to perform successfully. Implications of the studies for people with limited motor behavior and issues for future research were discussed.
Objective:
Assessing the effectiveness of technology-aided programs to help three children with multiple disabilities exercise adaptive head or leg-foot and hands responses independently.
Method:
The response selected for the two children included in Study I was head rotation (i.e. movements of at least 25 degrees to the left that could start from a full right position as well as from other positions). The responses selected for the child included in Study II involved forward movement of the left leg-foot and forward movement of his hand(s) to touch objects. Tilt or optic microswitches were used to monitor the responses and a computer system regulated the stimuli contingent on them.
Results:
The responses targeted in the two studies showed large frequency increases during the intervention phases of the studies (i.e. when followed by stimulation).
Conclusion:
Technology-aided programs can be a useful resource to help children with multiple disabilities exercise relevant responses independently.
Objective:
To assess the impact and the social rating of an active music condition (in which 10 patients with Alzheimer's disease regulated their music input) vs. a passive music condition.
Method:
In the active condition, the patients used a simple hand response and a microswitch to activate music stimulation periods. In the passive condition, music stimulation was prearranged and continued through the sessions. The active and passive stimulation sessions were preceded and followed by control (non-stimulation) sessions.
Results:
The active condition sessions showed an increase in the patients' indices of positive participation (e.g., singing or music-related movements, and smiles) similar to that observed in the passive condition sessions. Social raters (140 psychology students) favored the active condition on a six-item questionnaire dealing, among others, with conditions' suitability, respect of patients' dignity and independence, and practicality.
Conclusion:
An active music stimulation condition can be viable, effective, and socially preferable.
Background:
A camera-based microswitch technology was recently developed to monitor small facial responses of persons with multiple disabilities and allow those responses to control environmental stimulation. This study assessed such a technology with 2 new participants using slight variations of previous responses.
Method:
The technology involved a computer with a CPU using a 2GHz clock, a USB video camera with 16-mm lens, and special software. Small colour spots were used under the lower lip of one participant and on the eyelid of the other participant to aid the camera and computer to detect their mouth and eyelid responses. The study involved an ABAB design and included a 3-week post-intervention check.
Results:
The participants' mouth and eyelid responses increased during the intervention (B) phases and post-intervention check (i.e., when the technology allowed them to control stimulation).
Conclusions:
Camera-based microswitch technology can help persons with multiple disabilities control stimulation with small responses.
This study extended the research on a special text messaging system, which allows persons with multiple disabilities to (a) write and send messages to distant partners and (b) have messages from those partners read out to them. The study involved two women with multiple disabilities (including blindness or minimal residual vision). The system comprised a net-book computer, a mobile communication modem, and an input microswitch, and relied on special keyboards (not used before) to allow the women to write their messages. One of the keyboards included (a) two rows of 10 and 11 keys, respectively, reporting the 21 basic letters of the Italian alphabet arranged in alphabetical order and marked with Braille labels and (b) a space bar and an enlarged back/erase key. The other keyboard had Braille cues on the initial, central, and final keys of the letter rows. Moreover, most function keys were covered (cut out from the usable space). Both women learned to use the messaging system with the special keyboards successfully (i.e., to write their messages, to send them out, and to listen to incoming messages). These findings are analyzed in relation to preliminary data with the system and the need to adapt the writing technology to the participants' characteristics.
This article presents the findings from research to identify key barriers and opportunities in the provision of workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities in the United States. Using the policy Delphi method, a multiround, iterative polling technique used to assess key stakeholder perceptions, the study probed on five areas: awareness, policy/regulatory, economic, technology, and social. For each of these areas, the Delphi panel was asked to comment on the reliability of forecasts, importance of issues, desirability of goals, and finally, the feasibility of policy options. The Delphi study concluded with a set of 22 policy options to address barriers to the provision of workplace accommodations. Many of these options take a collaborative approach, but they emphasize involvement of federal agencies such as the Office of Disability Employment Policy in the U.S. Department of Labor and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Task Force of the U.S. Department of Justice.
This study assessed a new microswitch arrangement for eyelid responses using an optic sensor placed above the cheekbone and a small sticker on the person's eyelid. This new arrangement, which was designed to avoid interference of the microswitch with the person's visual functioning, was tested on three adults with acquired brain injury and multiple (consciousness, communication, and motor) disabilities. The study was carried out according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants. Data showed the new microswitch arrangement was suitable for all three participants, who increased their responding during the intervention phase of the study when their responses allowed them to access preferred stimulation. Practical implications of the findings are discussed.
These two studies extended the evidence on the use of technology-based intervention packages to promote adaptive behavior in persons with acquired brain injury and multiple disabilities. Study I involved five participants in a minimally conscious state who were provided with intervention packages based on specific arrangements of optic, tilt, or pressure microswitches (linked to preferred environmental stimuli) and eyelid, toe and finger responses. Study II involved three participants who were emerging from a minimally conscious state and were provided with intervention packages based on computer presentations of stimulus options (i.e., preferred stimuli, functional caregiver's procedures, and non-preferred stimuli) and pressure microswitches to choose among them. Intervention data of Study I showed that the participants acquired relatively high levels of microswitch responding (thus engaging widely with preferred environmental stimuli) and kept that responding consistent except for one case. Intervention data of Study II showed that the participants were active in choosing among preferred stimuli and positive caregivers' procedures, but generally abstained from non-preferred stimuli. The results were discussed in terms of the successful use of fairly new/infrequent microswitch-response arrangements (Study I) and the profitable inclusion of functional caregiver's procedures among the options available to choice (Study II).
A camera-based microswitch technology was recently used to successfully monitor small eyelid and mouth responses of two adults
with profound multiple disabilities (Lancioni et al., Res Dev Disab 31:1509–1514, 2010a). This technology, in contrast with the traditional optic microswitches used for those responses, did not require support
frames on the participants’ face but only small color marks. The present study was aimed at extending the research evidence
available on the aforementioned technology with the involvement of new participants and responses. The participants were three
children with profound multiple disabilities. The responses selected for them consisted of mouth closing, eyebrow lifting,
and repeated eyelid closures. The results showed that the new technology could be satisfactorily applied with all three children,
across the three different responses. All children had large increases in responding during the intervention periods (i.e.,
when their responses were followed by preferred stimulation). The findings are discussed in relation to the possible impact
of the new technology on programs for persons with multiple disabilities and minimal motor behavior.
KeywordsMicroswitch technology–Camera-based microswitches–Eyebrow lifting–Mouth closing–Repeated eyelid closures–Multiple disabilities
This study replicated/extended a pilot investigation of a technology-assisted program to enable persons with acquired brain
injury and neuro-motor and communication/consciousness impairments to choose among environmental stimuli and request their
repetition whenever they so desired. The study included three adult participants. Within each session, 16 stimuli (12 preferred
and 4 non-preferred) were planned for the participants. A computer system provided a reminder of each stimulus (i.e., a 4-s
sample of the stimulus). During the intervention, participants’ responding (e.g., repeated eye blinking or prolonged eye closure)
in relation to a reminder/sample activated a microswitch, which triggered the computer system to turn on the related stimulus
for 20s. Participants’ lack of responding led the computer system to proceed to the next stimulus sample of the sequence.
When participants responded immediately after (i.e., within 6s from) the end of a stimulus presentation, that stimulus was
repeated. Intervention promoted response increases for all three participants. All of them asked for repetition of preferred
stimuli and showed minimal responding in relation to non-preferred stimuli. Results were discussed in light of previous (pilot)
data with the same program and in terms of their implications for rehabilitation initiatives.
KeywordsMicroswitch–Computer technology–Acquired brain injury–Multiple disabilities
This study assessed whether two post-coma persons with minimally conscious state and extensive motor disabilities would learn
to use assistive communication technology, namely microswitches, to gain access to preferred environmental stimuli. Each of
the participants (adults) was provided with two microswitches that could be activated with small motor responses (e.g., finger
movements and eyelid raising). The microswitches were introduced in succession according to a multiple probe design across
microswitches/responses and allowed access to different sets of stimuli (i.e., recordings of songs and video-clips). Eventually,
the use of the two microswitches was alternated within and across days. Each participant learned to use both microswitches
successfully and maintained high levels of responding when the microswitches were alternated. The importance of assistive
communication technology within programs for post-coma persons with disorders of consciousness and extensive motor disabilities
is discussed.
KeywordsPost-coma–Assistive technology–Microswitches–Minimally conscious state–Motor disabilities
To extend the assessment of technology-based programs for promoting stimulus choice and staff/caregiver calls or radio operation and text messaging.
In Study I, the program involved a portable computer, commercial software, and a microswitch to allow a man with motor impairment and moderate intellectual disability to choose among preferred stimuli (e.g., songs and film clips) and persons to call. In Study II, the programs involved (a) a radio device and an electronic control unit or (b) a net-book computer and a global system for mobile communication. A woman with blindness and moderate intellectual disability used a microswitch to operate the radio or send and listen to text messages.
The participants succeeded in using the technology-aided programs through simple microswitch activations involving partial hand closure (Study I) or hand pressure (Study II).
Technology-based programs can provide persons with multiple disabilities relevant leisure and communication opportunities.
Purpose:
Assessing two technology-based programs for reducing toe walking and breaks during walking of two men with multiple disabilities, respectively.
Method:
The men were involved in separate single-case studies, each of which was carried out according to an ABAB design. The technology included a microprocessor with specific software, optic sensors, and visual plus vibrotactile or auditory systems for presenting preferred stimuli. In Study I, the man received 1 s of preferred flickering lights and vibratory input for each step performed with the heel of the left foot touching the ground or coming close to it (i.e. within a 2-mm distance). In Study II, the other man received 10 s of preferred music anytime he crossed one of the small marks present along the travel routes.
Results:
The B phases showed that (a) the man included in Study I increased the percentages of left- and right-foot steps performed with the heels touching or nearing the ground to above 85% and 70%, respectively, and (b) the man included in Study II walked with very few breaks.
Conclusion:
Technology-based programs can be highly effective in helping persons with multiple disabilities improve their walking behavior.
To expand recently-developed text messaging systems with new technology-based solutions so as to allow persons with multiple disabilities to write messages.
Two case studies were conducted. In Study I, the new technology-based solution involved vocal scanning of the alphabet letters to allow letter selection/writing and was assessed with a woman with blindness and extensive motor disability. In Study II, the new technology-based solution involved a touch-screen superimposed on letter symbols arranged alphabetically and was assessed with a man with acquired brain injury, motor disability and lack of speech. Each study involved an ABAB design.
Participants learned to write their messages, to send them out and to listen to incoming messages during intervention sessions of nearly 30 and 20 minutes, respectively.
Text messaging systems can be developed that allow participants with multiple disabilities to write messages.
The present three single-case studies assessed the effectiveness of technology-based programs to help three persons with multiple disabilities exercise adaptive response schemes independently. The response schemes included (a) left and right head movements for a man who kept his head increasingly static on his wheelchair's headrest (Study I), (b) left- and right-arm movements for a woman who tended to hold both arms/hands tight against her body (Study II), and (c) touching object cues on a computer screen for a girl who rarely used her residual vision for orienting/guiding her hand responses. The technology involved microswitches/sensors to detect the response schemes and a computer/control system to record their occurrences and activate preferred stimuli contingent on them. Results showed large increases in the response schemes targeted for each of the three participants during the intervention phases of the studies. The importance of using technology-based programs as tools for enabling persons with profound and multiple disabilities to practice relevant responses independently was discussed.
Demographical changes in high income counties will increase the need of health care services but reduce the number of people to provide them. Welfare technology is launched as an important measure to meet this challenge. As with all types of technologies we must explore its ethical challenges. A literature review reveals that welfare technology is a generic term for a heterogeneous group of technologies and there are few studies documenting their efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency. Many kinds of welfare technology break with the traditional organization of health care. It introduces technology in new areas, such as in private homes, and it provides new functions, e.g. offering social stimuli and entertainment. At the same time welfare technology is developed for groups that traditionally have not been extensive technology users. This raises a series of ethical questions with regard to the development and use of welfare technologies, which are presented in this review. The main challenges identified are: (1) Alienation when advanced technology is used at home, (2) conflicting goals, as welfare technologies have many stakeholders with several ends, (3) respecting confidentiality and privacy when third-party actors are involved, (4) guaranteeing equal access and just distribution, and (5) handling conflicts between instrumental rationality and care in terms of respecting dignity and vulnerability. Addressing these issues is important for developing and implementing welfare technologies in a morally acceptable manner.
This study assessed microswitch-based technology to enable three post-coma adults, who had emerged from a minimally conscious state but presented motor and communication disabilities, to operate a radio device. The material involved a modified radio device, a microprocessor-based electronic control unit, a personal microswitch, and an amplified MP3 player. The study was carried out according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline design across participants. During the intervention, all three participants learned to operate the radio device, changing stations and tuning on some of them longer amounts of time than on others (i.e., suggesting preferences among the topics covered by those stations). They also ended a number of sessions before the maximum length of time allowed for them had elapsed. The practical (rehabilitation) implications of the findings were discussed.
Through the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technology for Successful Aging (RERC-Tech-Aging) elder perspectives on cell phone designs and features were explored. Six-hundred and sixty-five participants (596 elders with disabilities, 69 adults with disabilities) from Northern Florida, Southern California, and Western New York were surveyed through face-to-face interviews, phone interviews, or mailed surveys. The survey addressed satisfaction, importance, frequency of use, methods for learning, barriers to use, views on features, and ways the cell phone had helped. The majority of elders (60%) valued their cell phone, and a large proportion (87%) use the cell phone for emergencies. Only one third of elders reported using their cell phone daily. Suggestions for improving phone design included increasing button size (50% of subjects), increasing display size (29% of subjects), increasing overall size of the cell phone (24% of subjects), and decreasing the complexity of the phone.
The policy delphi is a specific design to address a policy issue that has many alternative resolutions to the solution of the policy issue.
It starts with a literature search to establish all the different published resolutions of the policy or recommend ones. The paper describes how the respondents to the Delphi should vote on the different resolutions for
desirability and feasible. Any respondent can mage positive or negative comments about the issue and anyone can vote on any of these comments for the true or false measure and the feasibility measure as well.
Participants may change (at any time) their votes at any time due to the contributions of the participants. Ideally this is done online and may be entered at any time for any participant and the system shows the user new items or new vote values they have not seen. The user may also review any part of the delphi they wish to see at that time. They may also introduce at any time new policy resolutions and new comments. The published paper has an example topic. It can be done as an mailed set of rounds also but it does make it harder to make a lot of dynamic changes to earlier rounds.
While wireless communication and other information linked technologies have rapidly achieved widespread levels of adoption, a significant array of stakeholder groups have been effectively excluded, not as much by active intent as by inadvertent oversight and lack of awareness. Many of these technologies routinely used by the general population are frequently inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Barriers to the use of these technologies by people with varying disabilities may be subtle, but never the less very real. Public policy plays an important if frequently overlooked role for people with disabilities, in part because "people with disabilities...interface with so many different components of public policy systems, many of which are conflicting or inconsistent, such as employment goals and requirements for income assistance programs. The larger public policy context for disability and rehabilitation research reflects interlinking service delivery systems in which changes in one system often have a substantial impact on others." (NIDRR, 1999). This paper presents preliminary results of policy research designed to develop a framework for assessing the status quo, developing inclusive policy initiatives, and evaluating the efficacy of the research approach.
The policy Delphi : Techniques and appli cations
- H A Linstone
- M Turoff
Linstone, H. A., & Turoff, M. (EdsJ. (2002). The policy Delphi : Techniques and appli cations. (Original work published 1975).
Th e Delph i method: An experime ntal study of group opin ion (No. RM-5888-PRl
- N C Dalkey
Dalkey, N. C. (1969). Th e Delph i method: An experime ntal study of group opin ion (No. RM-5888-PRl. Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corporation.