RESEARCH & EVALUATION

Research on Accessible and Assistive Technology at the Institute on Disabilities

Despite the potential benefits, individuals with intellectual disabilities underuse many types of assistive technology (AT), despite the far-reaching potential benefits. We are conducting a number of research projects related to assistive technology use, including:

AT For Cognitive Disabilities

Assistive technology for cognitive disabilities, which evaluates the use of commercially available generic technologies to support the memory and organization of adults with intellectual disabilities in naturalistic settings. (Funded by Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center grant funded by The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research )

Web Usability Study

A usability study to determine whether web browser enhancements improve the effectiveness, accuracy, efficiency and satisfaction of adults with significant physical and communication disabilities who rely on communication technology in their use of the world wide web. ( Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center grant funded by The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research through a subcontract with Duke University)

AAC Vocabulary to support socially valued adult roles

Individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and their families have new expectations for life after high school, including attending college, becoming employed, managing personal assistance services and transportation, and having intimate relations. However, the vocabulary needed to support these socially-valued adult roles may not be available in pre-programmed devices nor in commonly used visual symbol systems. This purpose of this research was to determine whether vocabulary needed to participate in 6 socially-valued adult roles (i.e., college life; sexuality, intimacy, and sex; reporting crime; managing personal assistance services; managing health care; and using transportation) currently existed in 3 widely used symbol sets. (Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center grant funded by The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research)

Engendering Digital Independence

Engendering Digital Independence seeks to determine the extent to which individuals who rely on AAC have access to the many opportunities provided by the web and to improve their access via online mentoring. This research is funded by NIDRR through a subcontract with Duke University. (Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center grant funded by The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research)

Institute on Disabilities' Publications and Presentations

Publications on Accessible Websites

• Bryen, D.N. (June 2008) Improving web access by people who rely on AAC. White Paper.

Publications & Presentations on AAC Vocabulary to support socially valued adult roles

• Bryen, D.N. & Lever, S. (2008) AAC Vocabulary to support socially valued adult roles, A presentation accepted at the International Society for Augmentative & Alternative Communication ( ISSAC) Conference, Montreal ,Canada, August 2008.
• Bryen, D. N, ( 2008) "AAC Vocabulary to support socially valued adult roles", Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Under final review.

Publications on Engendering Digital Independence

• Williams , Bob( Fall 2005) “Engendering Digital Independence in Students that Rely on AAC: The Promise, Issues, Ideas and Suggested Next Steps “, http://www.imakenews.com/aac-rerc/e_article000455172.cfm?x=b11,0,w

Publications (collaborative) on cognitive disabilities and assistive technology

• Bryen, D.N. et. Al ( 2007) Accessibility in technology. Pamphlet.
• Bryen, D. N., Carey, A., & Friedman, M. ( 2007) Use of cell phones by adults with intellectual disabilities, Mental Retardation, Vol. 45 ( 1), 1-9
• Carey, A. C., Friedman, M. G., & Bryen, D. N. (2005). Use of Electronic Technologies by People With Intellectual Disabilities. Mental Retardation, 43(5), 322-333.
• Friedman, M. G., & Nelson, B. D. (2007). Web Accessibility Design Recommendations for People with Cognitive Disabilities: Institute on Disabilities, Temple University. Technology and Disability. 19 (4) , 205 - 212
• Friedman, M. & Bryen, D. N., (under review) Web accessibility guidelines for people with cognitive disabilities. Disability and Technology.

Institute on Disabilities' Investigators, Staff and Collaborators

Web Accessibility

Diane Bryen, PhD
George Heake
Mary Segal, Ph.D

Collaborator: Web Aim at the UCEDD of Utah State University

Contact Dr. Bryen: Phone: 215 204-1356 E-mail: dbryen@temple.edu

AAC Vocabulary to support socially valued adult roles

Diane Bryen, PhD

Collaborators:
Dynavox Technology, Mare Johnson Company, Sarah Lever, an AAC user

Engendering Digital Independence

Diane Bryen, PhD

Collaborators: Bob Williams, AAC user that lives in Washington, D.C., Indian Institute on Cerebral Palsy- Calcutta, India, SCOPE Center -Melbourne, Australia

Cognitive disabilities and assistive technology collaborative

Investigator: Diane Bryen, PhD

Collaborators: Allison Carey
Employer's Forum on Disability
Mark Friedman
The Assistive Technology Collaboration on Cognitive Disabilities at the University of Akron and Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital
The Brain Association of America
World Health Organization
US. Department of Labor
U.S. Census Bureau

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