Currently, there are major gaps in AT research. We lack data on people with disabilities who have specific needs for accessible information and communication products and services. We also need more information about current consumer behavior of people with disabilities and affordability issues associated with AT devices and services.

Advancing technologies are giving us the ability to address disability and to create independence in new and more effective ways. In the accessible nation, more people with disabilities will be living and working independently as a result of new AT that allows them to function productively and competitively in the workplace and to live independently longer as a result of advanced AT research and development.

Research Data on Technology and Disability

PROBLEM: While information regarding Americans with disabilities has greatly improved since the U.S. Bureau of the Census first began collecting them in 1970, these data fall well short of the need. For example, the most recent Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)⁴⁴ report counts the number of people who report difficulty in speaking, hearing and grasping small objects, or who cannot do these activities at all. That is useful information, however, but because of the nature of the questions, data are only available about people who are “unable” to do something, or “have difficulty” doing those things. This is not specific enough to be useful to product developers.

In addition, most product manufacturers now market globally. Consequently, efforts to collect data on health and disability by the World Health Organization (WHO)⁴⁵, the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics⁴⁶ and others need to be improved.

D-1. RECOMMENDATION:

Efforts should be made to improve research data on technology and disability.

Need for a National Survey

PROBLEM: Manufacturers need more precise data on the size of the population of Americans with disabilities, the geographical distribution of that population and perhaps, most importantly, the specific needs of the population for consumer devices. For example, how many people would benefit from talking ATM machines, video description on TV, captions on TV and on Internet video? How many people cannot, quickly and accurately, manually enter information on ATM machines, cell phones, personal computers, and so on? How many people encounter difficulties with public accommodations? We have a tremendous need to pinpoint the areas in our country where people are deprived of opportunities based on accessibility. We need high quality survey instruments that will produce accurate counts of the population of people who need AT and in what context their needs are greatest.

D-1.1. SUBRECOMMENDATION:

Government and industry should collaboratively conduct a national survey regarding the need for and use of accessibility features in mainstream products and services and AT.

In conjunction with this effort, disability statisticians should consult with consumers and industry representatives — notably designers and ergonomists — to identify the range of functions to be studied, bearing in mind that the performance demands imposed by technological products keep changing. Questions should also include studies of the entire population and not only those of persons with disabilities. In addition, government statistical gathering programs should be consulted to determine the best way of capturing the most important information about consumers with disabilities for the benefit of public policies. There is need for a study of marketing, purchasing patterns and dissemination issues.

PROBLEM: For markets to function efficiently they need specific, reliable and timely information. In general, companies involved in specialized AT do not know the size of the market and how to reach their market. There is a lack of information available to these manufacturers that address the questions of how many people are in their target audience, who is going to pay for AT, and what is the best way to get information in their hands.

Marketing: Manufacturers of AT devices are not well informed about the target market. Is there a national or state database that defines their audience? What would be the best way to mass market products? In this realm, many questions are begging to be expediently answered.

Purchasing Patterns: Research needs to be done that focuses on consumer behavior. The lack of specific data contributes to higher AT costs. There is a lack of research that points to ways to increase efficiencies through better business management. There are many questions related to purchasing patterns: Would special offers work? Do pre/post-sale costs such as evaluations and training affect the sale? Do demand and supply issues influence AT purchases? Could a company use AT orders from last year as a forecast? How does customization for unique needs such as custom designed and/or custom-fitted products affect a purchase?

Dissemination Issues: AT distribution is very inefficient and does not generally reflect basic business management skills. In virtually every instance, AT devices and services are purchased one at a time. This contributes to keeping prices higher than would be the case with purchases of a larger volume. Any of the following questions are legitimate, because the ground work has yet to be laid in this area of research: Would third-party purchase work? How can you decrease inefficiencies at the regional and state levels? And, are there ways to increase competition and innovation?

D 1.2. SUBRECOMMENDATION:

A study investigating the marketing, purchasing patterns, and dissemination issues regarding UD and AT technology should be initiated.

Developing the Next Generation AT

PROBLEM: Even if all mainstream technology were usable by people with the widest array of abilities, AT would still be necessary for some people with specific types of functional limitations.

R&D in AT is urgently needed to develop better techniques for designing interfaces that can be built into mass market products, and for developing next generation AT that will be easier to use and support a wider array of functional abilities.

Next generation AT could enable people who are blind to access any kind of written material, anytime, anywhere and to navigate effectively in physical and virtual environments. These technologies could empower deaf individuals to communicate freely and independently with anyone and participate fully and competitively in any environment. Innovative technologies could give people with severe physical disabilities the ability to control any device and interact effectively with any product, service, system or environment.

America has a long tradition of making public and private investments in science and technology to support vitally important national goals in areas such as defense, space, energy, health, the environment and information technology. These investments have paid for themselves many times over and made the United States the world leader in science, technology and innovation.

If the same dedication and ingenuity is applied to the field of AT research, extraordinary advances are indeed possible. Our goal should be technology transfer from the latest technological innovations in National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), DoD and other federal R&D investments to the commercial application of UD and AT.

Advances in UD products, services, systems, environments and AT will have a direct, measurable benefit to all Americans, as has occurred with defense, space and medical research. For example, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) was originally developed to assist blind and deaf people, converting text and images into bitmap patterns so the computer could easily read these. Thousands of pages of government or academic documents could be swiftly scanned into a computer that would have required vast numbers of human labor hours to physically type them. Today, this scanner technology is mainstream and readily found in a majority of offices throughout the nation.

Similarly, the Internet — a system of computers talking with a community of computers — was originally developed through academic and DoD research. It grew in its capacity within the academic and defense communities until it has become commonplace in households throughout the world. Today, e-commerce — a formidable business frontier — provides a shining example of a creative offspring of the Internet. Products, services, systems and environments would be easier for everyone to use even under stress and during an emergency. They would reduce language barriers and result in fewer injuries.

Yet, despite the enormous promise of UD products, systems and services and next generation AT, our nation has under invested in these technologies in comparison to other areas of R&D investment. The 2003 budget requests record levels for federal R&D — the amount of $111.8 billion. In 1999, the most recent year for which full information is available, total spending by industry, government, universities and nonprofit organizations was $244 billion.⁴⁷ R&D funding for disabilities (not health) technology to help increase the independence of people with disabilities, including those who are aging, is a small fraction of one percent of the total U.S. R&D budget. This is an amazingly small number given the significance and cost both socially and financially to our country when these individuals are not able to live and work independently.

Leadership by the federal government is needed to create incentives for companies, universities and non-profit organizations to perform high risk R&D in AT and AMT. Our nation’s objective should be to stimulate the development and deployment of breakthrough technologies with significant potential to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities, while simultaneously providing substantial economic benefits to the U.S. economy.

Furthermore, if the federal government invests in AT R&D, it will help drive additional private R&D. For example, company R&D is frequently organized to leverage federal R&D.

d

D-2. RECOMMENDATION:

A greater level of public and private funding for research should be targeted toward technologies and people with disabilities. This funding should take advantage of the technical advances that are now possible so that individuals who have disabilities can be more independent, productive and interactive in today’s world. Balance needs to be restored such that R&D programs are created or a fraction of other R&D programs are devoted to this area. Ideally, funding should be prioritized as in other areas such as medicine, space and military research.

D-2.1. SUBRECOMMENDATION:

Existing R&D in the federal departments of NASA and the DoD should be reviewed to determine where new technological innovations can be transferred to other federal R&D programs that deal with disability research, as well as the commercial application of AT and UD.

D-2.2. SUBRECOMMENDATION:

Dramatically increase the percentage of funding for R&D related to disability technology in the federal government. This will enable the research and development of new and improved assistive and accessible technologies that will significantly affect the independence of people experiencing disabilities including those who are older.

Herein lies a huge opportunity to create new and improved AT that can provide much greater independence and enable people to be able to interact with the innovative technologies of today. There is much that can be done if the funding is appropriate and programs are generated. As a result, we will realize the vision of an accessible nation that is within our reach.