Assistive technology survey results- 1 Assistive technology survey results: Continued benefits and needs reported by Americans with disabilities

What do Americans with disabilities think about the role assistive technology (AT) plays in their daily lives? Responses to a recent survey give some insight, including how Americans with disabilities determine their personal needs for AT, and how they obtain information about acquiring AT. Assistive technology is defined rather broadly by the law (Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988, PL 100-407, and the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, PL 105-394) as any kind of device that assists persons with disabilities in the performance of daily tasks and activities. This includes a rather large number of devices and technologies, ranging from “low-tech” mobility devices such as walkers and canes to “high-tech ” speech synthesizers and other augmentative communication devices, or the stair climbing “Ibot ” wheelchair. To provide an idea about the number and variety of AT devices available for use today, ABLEDATA’s online catalogue of assistive technology (see