Assistive Technology: An Overview Robert J. Jaeger, Ph.D. National Science Foundation presented to FLC Mid-Atlantic Regional Meeting September 20, 2006

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

Examples of Assistive Technology (AT)

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

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, Disability Statistics Report No. 6. Washington, D.C.: National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

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

AT Industry

Table 3 -- States Hosting The Most AT Firms* State Number of AT Firms Revenues California 58$256,686,066 Florida28$48,963,000 New York24$37,350,267 Michigan22$35,331,922 Minnesota21$521,925,866 Ohio20$898,362,671 Wisconsin14$180,098,069 Massachusetts13$13,250,000 Texas13$19,549,620 Pennsylvania13$51,064,645 Total226$2,062,582,126 Source: U.S. Department of Commerce/BIS AT Survey

Table R&D As A Percent of Sales Revenue* (Millions of dollars) Company SizeSales Revenue% R&DYear Large$1,3413%1997 $1,8142.6%1998 $1,9752.8%1999 Medium$5693.2%1997 $4674.1%1998 $5273.7%1999 Small$3548.5%1997 $3788%1998 $3749.6%1999 Source: US DOC/BIS Survey *Sales revenues are rounded. Some percentages calculated on an adjusted base.

ABLEDATA 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).

AT Research

AT Professional Societies RESNA IEEE/EMBS BMES

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

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)

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

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

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. (

Conclusion

Thank You! Questions?

SOURCE: Science and Engineering Indicators National R&D funding, by source

SOURCE: Science and Engineering Indicators Federal R&D budget authority, by budget function