Assistive Technology and Veterans with Severe Disabilities: Examining the Relationships among Race, Personal Factors, Medical Support, Income Support and Use

Purpose: Examine the relationship among assistive technology (AT), race, and other demographic characteristics (e.g., gender, educational attainment, and employment status), medical coverage, as well as government support for veterans with severe disabilities.

 Methods:  Data were analyzed from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) 911 dataset collected in the U.S. in 2012.  Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed.   

 Results:  Among veterans with severe disabilities, factors that increased AT usage for EAs and AAs were employment, medical coverage (e.g., access to private insurance and Medicare), government support (e.g., SSI or SSDI), and having a sensory type of disability.  Having a mental disability was associated with decreased use of AT for EAs and AAs. Whereas European Americans (EAs) had more factors associated with a decreased likelihood of using AT, African Americans (AAs) had more factors associated with an increased likelihood.  For EA veterans with severe disabilities, receiving Medicaid, veteran benefits, and Workers’ Compensation were associated with a decreased likelihood of using AT.  AA veterans with severe disabilities were 60% less likely to use AT compared to EAs.

 Conclusions: Racial differences between AAs and EAs were observed based on gender, education, employment status, medical coverage, and government support. AAs were generally less likely to use AT; however, greater exposure to resources such as employment, insurance, and government income support partially explained the differential AT use between EAs and AAs.  Future policies and research should address these racial disparities in veterans with severe disabilities to promote equitable AT use and healthy functioning.