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Use of Assistive Technology: Findings from National Surveys
Prepared by:
Lita Jans, Ph.D.
InfoUse
2560 Ninth Street, Suite 320
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 549-6520
© Copyright InfoUse, 2000
InfoUse
Access to Disability Data, #H133D50017
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
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Less than 1/4 of people with a work disability have a computer at home, compared to more than 1/2 of people with no disability.
Use of computer at home, by people with and without work disability
| Work disability | No disability | |
|---|---|---|
| Have computer at home | 23.9% | 51.7% |
Source: Kaye (2000)
Survey: CPS, 1998-99
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Non-disabled people have Internet access at nearly three times the rate of people with a work disability.
Internet access from home by people, with and without work disability
| Work disability | No disability | |
|---|---|---|
| Have Internet access at home | 11.4% | 31.1% |
Source: Kaye (2000)
Survey: CPS, 1998-99
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One in five Americans has a disability.
Percentage of Americans with disabilities
| Disability status | Percentage | Estimated number |
|---|---|---|
| Disability | 21% | 53,907,000 |
| No disability | 79% | 207,842,000 |
Source: McNeil (1997)
Survey: SIPP, 1994-95
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The most prevalent main causes of activity limitation are back conditions, heart disease, and arthritis.
Highest prevalence conditions that were main causes of limitation
| Condition | Percentage | Estimated number in thousands |
|---|---|---|
| Back & spine conditions | 15.6% | 5,890 |
| Heart disease | 10.5% | 3,971 |
| Arthritis | 9.8% | 3,697 |
| Leg & arm conditions | 7.1% | 2,695 |
| Asthma | 5.3% | 2,015 |
| Mental disorders | 4.0% | 1,494 |
| LD/MR | 3.7% | 1,389 |
| Diabetes | 3.2% | 1,189 |
| Cancer | 2.4% | 922 |
| Eye conditions | 1.9% | 727 |
| Hearing impairments | 1.7% | 654 |
| Other | 34.7% | 13090 |
| 100.0% | 37733 |
Source: LaPlante & Carlson, 1996
Survey: NHIS, 1992
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In 1990, only 5% of the total population (or about 1/4 of people with disabilities) used any assistive devices.
Prevalence of assistive devices
| Use of assistive technology | Percentage | Estimated number |
|---|---|---|
| Use AT | 5.3% | 13,128,000 |
| Report unmet need for AT | 1.0% | 2,508,000 |
| No reported AT use | 93.7% | 232,062,113 |
| Total | 100.0% | 247,698,113 |
Source: LaPlante, Hendershot, & Moss (1997)
Survey: NHIS-AT supplement, 1990
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About 8.5 million children have a disability, with higher rates for older children and youth.
Children and youth with disability, ages 0-21 years
| Ages | Percentage of age group | Estimated number |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 3 years | 2.60% | 313,000 |
| 3 to 5 years | 5.20% | 652,000 |
| 6 to 14 years | 12.70% | 4,462,000 |
| 15 to 21 years | 12.10% | 3,047,000 |
| 0 to 21 years | 100% | 8,474,000 |
Source: McNeil (1997)
Survey: SIPP, 1994-95
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Difficulty doing schoolwork is the most common limitation for children and youth, 6 to 21 years.
Limitations among children with disabilities, 6 to 21 years
| Type of limitation | Estimated number |
|---|---|
| Difficulty doing schoolwork | 3,537,000 |
| Difficulty walking | 982,000 |
| Difficulty hearing normal conversation | 678,000 |
| Difficulty seeing words and letters | 652,000 |
| Difficulty with self-care (ADLs) | 535,000 |
Source: McNeil (1997)
Survey: SIPP, 1994-95
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Relatively few families report that their children with special health care needs are using assistive devices.
Equipment use by children with special health care needs
| Type of equipment | Estimated number |
|---|---|
| Breathing equipment | 858,041 |
| Mobility aid | 204,787 |
| Brace | 166,806 |
| Hearing aid | 109,551 |
| Self-care equipment (ADLs) | 60,149 |
| Hearing assistance equipment | 38,459 |
| Visual aid | 24,066 |
| Equipment for toileting or eating | 18,613 |
| Artificial limb | 15,084 |
Source: Newacheck, Strickland, et.al. (1998)
Survey: NHIS-D, 1994-95
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Learning disabilities are the most common disabilities among children (6 to 21 years) served under IDEA.
Disabilities of children and youth (6 to 21 years), served under IDEA
| Type of disability | Number |
|---|---|
| Learning disability | 2,676,299 |
| Speech/language impairments | 1,050,975 |
| Mental retardation | 594,025 |
| Emotional disturbance | 447,426 |
| Other impairments | 172,488 |
| Multiple disabilities | 99,638 |
| Hearing impairments | 68,766 |
| Orthopedic impairments | 66,400 |
| Autism | 34,101 |
| Visual impairment | 25,834 |
Source: US Dept of Ed, OSERS (1998)
Data: OSEP Data Analysis System
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Disability and severity of disability increase with age.
Relationship between age and disability
| Children, 6 to 21 years, number and percent with disability | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimated number in 1000s | Percentage of age group | |
| No disability | 52,638 | 88% |
| Non-severe disability | 6,037 | 10% |
| Severe disability | 1,472 | 2% |
| Total | 60,147 | 100% |
| Adults, 22 to 64 years, number and percent with disability | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimated number in 1000s | Percentage of age group | |
| No disability | 116,951 | 80% |
| Non-severe disability | 14,943 | 10% |
| Severe disability | 14,071 | 10% |
| Total | 145,965 | 100% |
| Seniors, 65 years and older, number and percent with disabilty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Estimated number in 1000s | Percentage of age group | |
| No disability | 14,837 | 47% |
| Non-severe disability | 5,994 | 19% |
| Severe disability | 10,425 | 33% |
| Total | 31,256 | 100% |
Source: McNeil (1997)
Survey: SIPP, 1994-95
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Among working-age people, mobility-related limitations are more common than sensory and self-care limitations.
Functional limitations of adults with disabilities, 21 to 64 years old
| Type of functional limitation | Numbers in 1000s |
|---|---|
| Difficulty with any functional limitation | 17,797 |
| Difficulty walking 3 blocks | 8,697 |
| Difficulty climbing stairs | 8,517 |
| Difficulty carrying 10 lbs. | 8,026 |
| Difficulty hearing normal conversation | 4,489 |
| Difficulty seeing words & letters | 4,002 |
| Difficulty with self-care (ADLs) | 3,640 |
| Difficulty having speech understood | 1,019 |
Source: McNeil (1997)
Survey: SIPP, 1994-95
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Among working-age people, AT promotes personal independence and better work outcomes.
According to a National Council on Disability study of people who received assistive technology:
Source: Galvin & Langton (1997).
Survey: NCD, 1993
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In 1997, only 4.3% of libraries nationwide provided public access to software or hardware for people with disabilities.
Percentage of public libraries with public access software for people with disabilities, by type of community
| Type of community | Percentage with public access software |
|---|---|
| Urban | 11.1% |
| Suburban | 5.1% |
| Rural | 3.0% |
| Overall | 4.3% |
Source: Bertot, McClure & Fletcher (1997)
Survey: Nat'l Survey of US Public Libraries & Internet
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The growth of the senior population is expected to increase even more rapidly in the next few decades.
Estimated number of people 65 and over, 1940-2040
| Year | 65-84 years | 85+ years | 65+ (total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 8,660,856 | 370,275 | 9,031,131 |
| 1960 | 15,734,977 | 940,054 | 16,675,031 |
| 1990 | 28,057,957 | 3,021,717 | 31,079,674 |
| 2020 | 46,759,000 | 6,460,000 | 53,219,000 |
| 2040 | 61,681,000 | 13,552,000 | 75,233,000 |
Source: Day (1996); Jans & Stoddard (1999)
Survey: Bureau of Census statistics & projections
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Seniors use more assistive technology than other groups.
Estimated number of people using AT and home access features, by age group
| <25 years | 25-44 years | 45-64 years | 65-74 years | 75 years + | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AT device | 1,048 | 2,228 | 3,022 | 2,756 | 4,073 |
| Home access feature | 1,395 | 1,272 | 1,484 | 1,282 | 1,667 |
Source: LaPlante, Hendershot & Moss, 1997
Survey: NHIS-AT, 1990
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Older Americans profit greatly from AT, but many do not have access to information about AT.
Studies on seniors with disabilities have found that:
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People with a disability are more likely to have low income, especially those with a severe disability.
Percentage of people, ages 22 to 64 years, with low relative income
| Status | % with low income |
|---|---|
| No disability | 13.3% |
| Disability | 19.3% |
| Severe disability | 42.2% |
Source: McNeil, 1997
Survey: SIPP, 1994-95
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People with disabilities often pay for AT and home accessibility features out of pocket.
Percentage of AT devices and home accessibility features paid out of pocket, by third party and by a combination of both
| AT Devices | Home access features | |
|---|---|---|
| Out of pocket | 48.2% | 77.5% |
| Third party | 34% | 15.2% |
| Combination | 17.9% | 7.3% |
Source: LaPlante, Hendershot & Moss (1997)
Survey: NHIS-AT, 1990
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