The nation’s 2010 health objectives address the influence of environmental factors on disability in Chapter 6 (Disability and Secondary Conditions). The positive influences of assistive technologies, while intuitively obvious, has not been documented by outcome assessments of participation changes pre and post acquisition of devices. No surveillance system has been developed to track the number and type of devices currently used by people with disabilities. Several ideas for developing targeted assessment of device use and need will be discussed. The number, type and importance of environmental facilitators and barriers for full participation by people with disabilities in major life activities is only now beginning to be studied. Several approaches to systematically surveying the influence of environmental factors on the expression of disability in participation by people with disabilities will be explored. The relationships between universal design and individual needs will be explored.
Learning Objectives: 1. to become familiar with current and newly developed survey and assessment tools that address the influence of environmental factors on the participation by people with disabilities in life activities 2. to understand the importance of universal design in the context of maximal access to the built and social environments
Keywords: Disability Policy,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.