Assistive Technology: An Overview Robert J. Jaeger, Ph.D. National Science Foundation presented to FLC Mid-Atlantic Regi

1. Assistive Technology:An OverviewRobert J. Jaeger, Ph.D.National Science Foundationpresented toFLC Mid-Atlantic Regional MeetingSeptember 20, 2006

2. Main Topics • Examples of Assistive Technology (AT) • User Population • Professional and Technical AT Societies • Federal Funding Agencies for AT Research • AT Industry Profile

3. Examples of Assistive Technology (AT)

12. User Population What are the types of disabilties? How many people have a disability?

13. How many people have disabilites? Orthopedic impairments 8,608,000 Learning disability and mental retardation 1,575,000 Visual impairments 1,294,000 Hearing impairments 1,175,000 Paralysis 1,070,000 Deformities 900,000 Absence or loss of limb/other body part 788,000 Speech impairments 545,000 Other and ill-defined impairments 371,000 Source: M.P. LaPlante and D. Carlson (1996). Disability in the United States: Prevalence and Causes, 1992. Disability Statistics Report No. 6. Washington, D.C.: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

14. Models of Disability • Medical Model: “Fix the Person” • Artificial Leg • “Cure” for Spinal Cord Injury • Prosthetic Retina • Social Model: “Fix the Environment” • Ramps • Automatic Doors • Captioned TV • In practice, a combination of the two

15. AT Industry

16. Table 3 --States Hosting The Most AT Firms*

17. Table 21 -- R&D As A Percent of Sales Revenue* (Millions of dollars)

18. ABLEDATA • http://www.abledata.com/ • ABLEDATA provides objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources. No sales. • 32,000 assistive products (over 21,000 of which are currently available).

19. AT Research

20. AT Professional Societies • RESNA • IEEE/EMBS • BMES

21. AT Journals • Assistive Technology (RESNA) • IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering • Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development (VA)

22. Major Federal AT R&D Funders • Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) • Department of Veterans Affairs, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service (RR&D) • National Institutes of Health, National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research (NCMRR) • National Science Foundation (NSF)

23. What specific R&D is being funded? • See “Compendium of Assistive Technology Research: A Guide to Currently Funded Research Projects” • Over 125 funded projects • Many federal agencies involved

24. Cross-walking AT research • Assistive Technology Classifications Systems • International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health • ISO-9999: Technical Aids for Persons With Disabilities—Classification and Terminology • National Classification System for Assistive Technology (developed by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Research Triangle Institute) • Food and Drug Administration Status • MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) • Medicaid and Medicare Payment Status • Agencies Funding the Research • Estimated Number of Manufacturers • Estimated Number of Users

25. Coordinating Federal AT R&D • Interagency Committee on Disability Research (ICDR). • Authorized by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. • Mandated “to promote coordination and cooperation among Federal departments and agencies conducting rehabilitation research programs.” • The ICDR’s public website offers a very comprehensive source for information across abroad spectrum of disability and rehabilitation research. (http://www.icdr.us/)

26. Conclusion

27. Thank You! Questions? rjaeger@nsf.gov

28. National R&D funding, by source SOURCE:Science and Engineering Indicators - 2004

29. Federal R&D budget authority, by budget function SOURCE:Science and Engineering Indicators - 2004