Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102210

Lynne E. Broderick, MPH¹, James L. Mueller, BID, MA², and Michael L. Jones, PhD¹. (1) Crawford Research Institute, Shepherd Center, 2020 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30309, 404-367-1348, lynne_broderick@shepherd.org, (2) User Needs Assessment, Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wireless Technologies for Persons with Disabilities, Shepherd Center, 2020 Peachtree Road, NW, Atlanta, GA 30309

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Mobile Wireless Technologies for Persons with Disabilities (“Wireless RERC”), has been working since 2001 to promote universal access to mobile wireless technology for people with disabilities. With the purpose of this project being to identify, prioritize, and disseminate information about the wireless technology needs of users with disabilities, an ongoing User Needs Survey was developed. The survey was disseminated on both paper and in an accessible web-based format to 2,000 persons with disabilities, including physical, cognitive, visual and hearing impairments. To date, there have been over 1,000 responses to the survey. In addition to providing insight into users of wireless technology, the survey responses have spawned a Consumer Advisory Network (CAN) consisting of over 600 members, the majority of whom are people with disabilities. The CAN has enabled the Wireless RERC to hold 14 focus group discussions with persons who are users of mobile wireless products and services. The results of both the survey and focus groups have brought to light significant issues with the current design and usability of wireless products for people with different disabilities. The results demonstrate that persons with disabilities are a significant customer market for wireless goods and services and that issues affecting usability for this population are similar to those of customers without disabilities. The results have also enabled the development of personas depicting the characteristics of wireless customers with disabilities for education and dissemination purposes.

Learning Objectives:

• 1) Describe the problems with current wireless products that can limit their use among persons with disabilities
• 2) Demonstrate how persons with disabilities are a valuable part of the wireless technology market
• 3) Recognize the value of personas in demonstrating survey and focus group results

Keywords: Disability, Technology

Related Web page: www.wirelessrerc.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.