Alan VanBiervliet

Predictors of assistive technology use: The importance of personal and psychosocial factors

Objective. To validate an assistive technology (AT) baseline and outcomes measure and to quantify the measures value in determining the best match of consumer and AT considering consumer ratings of their subjective quality of life, mood, support from others, motivation for AT use, program/therapist reliance, and self-determination/self-esteem. Design. Prospective multi-cohort study. Setting. Vocational rehabilitation offices and community. Participants. Over 150 vocational rehabilitation counselors in 25 U.S. states with one consumer each receiving new AT. Interventions. Counselor training in the Matching Person and Technology (MPT) Model and consumer completion of the MPT measure, Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment (ATD PA). Main outcome measures. Total and subscale scores on the ATD PA as well as counselor-completed questionnaires. Results. ATD PA items differentiated consumer predispositions to AT use as well as AT and user match. There were no significant differences due to gender, physical locality, or age within this sample of working-age adult consumers. Vocational rehabilitation counselors exposed to training in the MPT Model achieved enhanced AT service delivery outcomes. Conclusions. The ATD PA is a valid measure of predisposition to use an AT and the subsequent match of AT and user. Rehabilitation practitioners who use the ATD PA will achieve evidence-based practice and can expect to see enhanced AT service delivery outcomes.

Family-centered Decision Making in Assistive Technology

Throughout the country, school teams increasingly are adopting culturally sensitive family-centered practices in planning for assistive technology (AT) for children with disabilities. Over the past two decades evolving research has revealed the importance of considering family and cultural issues when planning AT interventions for children with disabilities and their families. This paper presents an overview of selected family and cultural issues, and suggests ongoing questions. The potential for interactive multimedia in helping teams and families make AT decisions is reviewed. The paper concludes with a description of a newly available interactive CD-ROM designed to provide to both families and professionals basic information on augmentative and alternative communication decision-making, including an overview of relevant family and cultural issues.

Selection of Appropriate Technology for Children with Disabilities.

Discibilities and calculators are used by ind ividuals with visual problems, allowing them to ac cess important information that sigh ted people often take for granted. These and many other technological advancements are greatly improving the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. More specifically, the se technologies enhance their independenc e and productivity and increase their ability to participate in the main stream of society (Garner & Campbell, 1987; Vanderheiden, 1985). Most schools have had some experi ence in providing devices and equ ip-

Development and evaluation of the Families, Cultures and Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) multimedia program

Purpose : The Families, Cultures and AAC Project was designed to provide professionals and families with accurate, culturally sensitive information about augmentative communication technologies and decision making strategies through an innovative, user-friendly format. Methods : The project resulted in the development of the first interactive bilingual CD-ROM designed to be used by professionals at the pre- or in-service level, and family members from diverse cultures to develop AAC decisionmaking competencies. Results : The Interactive Health Communication (IHC) model provided an effective structure for conceptualizing, developing and evaluating the program. The program also incorporated universal access design concepts. The program was evaluated in the following 10 categories: usability, visual appearance, consistency, error tolerance, navigation, feedback, user control, redundant formats, content accuracy, and engaging styles. Conclusion : Reviewers of the program indicated that it was well designed and would be useful for the intended purpose.