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Health Policy and Practice Implications of Evolving Mobile and Assistive Technologies: Considering Barriers to Access and Use by People with Disabilities
Mobile and assistive technologies present many benefits for the health and wellness of people with disabilities. These technologies can help people with disabilities to manage activities of daily living and facilitate their participation and inclusion in society. Mobile and assistive technologies can also flexibily adapt to fit the diverse strengths and weaknesses of adults and youth with disabilities.
Yet, widespread barriers in policies and practices can hamper technological usage. For instance, people with disabilities that affect communication can face challenges to access and use new communication technologies on tablets and smartphones. Many software developers created apps for tablets and smartphones that facilitate typing-based communication to generate speech. These mobile devices and their communication software commonly cost less than many systems focused exclusively on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). However, funding from Medicaid and other sources may not cover the cost of mobile devices and their software to support AAC. Likewise, people with disabilities can face other barriers to attain sufficient training to use new mobile technologies. Similarly, people with disabilities can face widespread barriers to make use of advanced robotics and other assistive technologies.
This situation presents implications for how health policies and practices can address major barriers affecting technological access and use.
Learning Areas:
Communication and informaticsPublic health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Identify two examples of barriers to adoption and use of mobile and assistive technologies by people with disabilities
Discuss how health policies and practices can facilitate adoption and use of mobile and assistive technologies by people with disabilities
Keyword(s): Information Technology, Policy/Policy Development
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. I have also presented at APHA during the last few years, I received my PhD from Penn State in 2010.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes
| Name of Organization | Clinical/Research Area | Type of relationship |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee | Federal advisory board for autism | Advisory Committee/Board |
| Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Public Policy Fellowship | Public policy fellowship for legislative development experience | Employment (includes retainer) |
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.