Abstract:

Although assistive technology (AT) can improve prospects dealing with disability and employment for successful employment outcomes, nothing has been published about the utilization of such services by American Indians/Alaska Natives. Basic research is needed just to describe the patterns of use of AT among minority groups such as American Indians/Alaska Natives, investigating why these patterns exist, and describing the barriers to utilization. Current anecdotal evidence suggests that the rate of utilization of AT services is lower on American Indian reservations than in urban areas, and that significant barriers include lack of knowledge of American Indians/Alaska Natives cultural issues by providers of AT services, as well as a lack of knowledge about AT services by the consumers who need them. But these suggestions are merely hypotheses which remain to be tested. Consequently, this project will compare the rate of utilization of AT services by American Indians/Alaska Natives in comparison with other minority groups, identify barriers to service utilization, and design training materials for consumers, counselors, and AT service providers on how to improve employment outcomes through the use of AT.

Purpose:

To examine the needs over time to ensure that individuals with disabilities are benefiting from AT after the initial diagnosis and setup, and to examine American Indian consumer satisfaction with assistive devices, with respect to their availability, ease of use, maintenance, and repair, as well as implications for employment outcome.

Progress to Date:

All Project objectives have been completed except as follows: Objective 2, Activity 2.9: Disseminate research findings Objective 3, Develop and disseminate guidelines for service providers to use to assess improvement following AT, and ensure proper and continued use of AT devices. These two Objectives will be completed when the Final Report is published.

Primary accomplishment of the past year has been a major revision of the final report, which is now in final review.

The previous lead P.I., Dr. Athanase Gahungu, left the project to take another position after completing a draft of the Final Report that needed substantial revisions. The draft manuscript has been in editorial stage since summer, 2001.

In January 2001, the co-P.I. assumed responsibility for revising the report as needed.

Note: This Project has been endorsed by the Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation (CANAR).

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