Although families usually play a key role in finding, selecting, and using assistive technology for their children, they often face significant barriers finding adequate information about technology options and accessing the technology. Numerous organizations exist to help parents in the many steps of bringing technology into their children’s lives. Nevertheless, parents are frustrated by numerous structural and geographic obstacles. The Family Center on Technology and Disability, a project of United Cerebral Palsy, conducted a national assessment of the information and support that families need to link their children with assistive technology. The study looked at organizational capacity and barriers to meeting those needs. Through key informant interviews with 38 organizations serving families and children, review of statistical sources, and review of organizational program impact, this study identified unmet needs. The principal findings of the study were that most families have little or no information on the potential benefits of assistive technology. Organizations most frequently offer information and support on cognitive and learning aids and communication devices, in response to expressed needs of the families they serve. Organizations identified rural families, those from ethnic and cultural minorities, and poor families as having particular problems accessing technology assistance. The most frustrating and widespread barrier noted is lack of funding options for many families. Organizations try to reach underserved families by setting up satellite centers, sending mobile vans to distant areas for "hands-on" presentations, increasing use of on-line resources, and helping local communities develop their own peer information networks.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, participants should be able to (1) identify barriers facing families trying to find assistive technology resources, (2) describe which types of families are "underserved" by the organizations that assist them, (3) identify systemic barriers facing organizations that are trying to link families with technology resources, and (4) identify strategies organizations use to address those barriers.
Keywords: Children With Special Needs, Technology
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: InfoUse
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.