| Assistive technology (AT), also known as adaptive equipment, can be traced back in the literature for over 50 years. Despite this long-standing interest, a paucity of information documents the use of AT by children with disabilities on a national scale. This study explored how data about AT from the 1994 and 1995 National Health Interview Study Phase II Disability Followback Survey-Child Questionnaire describes the use and outcomes of technology by children with disabilities ages birth through seventeen.;This study addressed two types of research questions to facilitate the investigation. Six questions focused on quantifying types of AT identified, relationships between support services and AT, funding sources, the relationship between race and AT use, and geographic location and AT utilization. Two post hoc questions were posed to evaluate the data base for informing national policy on AT outcomes.;Frequency distributions and cross tabulations were calculated for each of the six quantitative questions to identify meaningful interactions between variables. The first post hoc question critically reviewed methodological aspects of the survey that contributed to or detracted from an understanding of AT outcomes. The second post hoc question reviewed the specific presentation of survey questions as they related to the effectiveness of capturing relevant data on AT utilization and outcomes.;Six key findings emerged. First, within the broad continuum of medical and educational disabilities identified in the survey, educationally related statistics were found to be substantially different from alternative national data sources. Second, while 16 medically-related AT devices were identified, only four educationally relevant AT devices were surveyed. Third, the NHIS Phase II Disability Followback Survey Child Questionnaire examined numerous support services from medical and educational perspectives, but due to the survey question design, no constructive explanation can be determined between services and AT acquisition, training, or outcomes. Fourth, seven funding sources were queried in the survey, with Medicaid and private insurance having the highest interaction with AT. However, no specific questions relating to how AT was funded were queried in the NHIS. Fifth, some differences between race and AT utilization emerged in the data. Sixth, the data revealed considerable utilization of AT in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) outside of inner city locations.;Two additional questions were raised for the purpose of analyzing and critiquing the construction of the NHIS Phase II Disability Followback Survey-Child Questionnaire. The first post hoc question examined cardinal principles of survey research and identified methodological weaknesses in survey length, positioning of questions within the body of the survey, and word use within survey questions. The second post hoc question found numerous shortcomings of the survey question content for informing federal AT policy, including the lack of questions related to the acquisition, length, or abandonment of AT, limited queries related to educational AT, and no specific questions as to who was responsible for the training and maintenance of AT.;Based on findings of this study, nine recommendations for individuals, national organizations, and federal and educational agencies are identified. Recommendations pose alternative methods to more efficiently capture salient information concerning the acquisition, use and outcomes of AT. |
