POLICY BARRIERS TO ACCESSING TECHNOLOGY SERVICES FOR PEOPLE AGING WITH DISABILITIES
Principal Investigator: Phoebe S. Liebig,
Ph.D.
Purpose
In 1993 the Policies for Aging with Disabilities (PAD) project at the University
of Southern California was funded by NIDRR to investigate current policies
and practices that affect the use of and access to assistive technologies
that support employment and maintain community-based living among adults
with disabilities. This project is part of the RRTC on Aging with Disability,
located at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center. The mission of the RRTC is
to develop a coordinated program of research, training, and clinical service
that advances our understanding of the "natural" course of aging
with physical disability
The objectives of the PAD project include: (1) describing current patterns
of utilization and recent changes in patterns of utilization related to
type of assistive technology; (2) examining the impact of assistive technology
use on health status and on quality of life issues; (3) identifying the
barriers, both attitudinal and financial, which may limit use; (4) investigating
the adequacy of current policies on assistive technology; and (5) identifying
the need, if any, for policy changes.
Methodology
Our research design relies on a variety of methods including:
Preliminary Results
The consumer survey is being conducted as a joint endeavor with Dr. Margaret
Campbell's project. The survey entitled "Changing Needs and Life Circumstances
of persons Aging with Disability" is currently in the data collection
phase. The sample includes 4 groups: rheumatoid arthritis, cerebral palsy,
post-polio, and stroke. Our portion of the survey focuses on AT issues such
as information-seeking related to acquisition; use and abandonment of devices;
funding patterns; changing needs over time, and unmet needs for assistive
technology. Reports on findings will be forthcoming in 1997.
Our policy research during the 1995/96 focused on describing and assessing
current knowledge about federal and state policies relevant to the AT needs
of middle-aged and older adults with disability; identifying the gaps in
our knowledge of AT policies and programs; and considering what research
on AT policy should be conducted in the future. This focus on state-level
policies is unique; relatively little is known about individual state efforts
concerning AT. Our research is summarized in the report entitled "Assistive
Technolgy and Adults Aging with Disabilities: A Report on Federal and State
Policies and Programs", which will be available in Fall 1996.
In August 1996 we conducted a national survey of state legislative analysts.
The purpose of this survey was to determine what legislation, legislative
committees, funding, policies, and programs individual states have in place
for assistive technology and home modifications for adults with disabilities.
The key focus was on identifying what states have done of their own initiative
rather than those driven by federal legislation. A report summarizing our
findings will be available in late Fall 1996.
During 1995/96, project staff conducted additional analyses using two national
surveys: (1) 1990 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)-Supplement on
AT; and (2) Rehabilitation Engineering Society of North America Survey (RESNA)
of consumers using state Tech Act Projects to meet their needs for AT. Our
analysis of the NHIS Survey sought to examine the types and use of AT among
older adults and identify barriers to access. The RESNA analyses focused
on two age groups: 40-60 and 61+, to determine particular problem areas,
unmet need, types of problems encountered, and receipt of AT information
and referral services.
In Spring 1995 project staff conducted a follow-up study of 10 State Units
on Aging (SUAs) with high levels of effort in home modifications concerning
their interactions with state-level rehabilitation agencies on that kind
of service. Staff also assisted the American Society on Aging in developing
their instrument for a Survey of State Units on Aging and State Tech Act
Projects. The findings from both these studies suggest that older persons
may be "falling between the cracks" in their access to AT.
The case studies of consumers and agencies are planned for 1997 after our
consumer analyses are completed. Case studies will be based on questions
raised by the consumer data.