RESUMEN
PURPOSE: Assistive technology (AT) can increase or maintain the quality of life and overall well-being of people with disabilities. Nevertheless, access to AT is limited among Hispanics with disabilities in the United States (U.S.). AT research representing the experiences of Hispanics is limited, potentially leading to disparities in AT use. Moreover, poor inclusion of Hispanics neglects the needs of this population, resulting in discrepancies in research, practice, and policy related to AT. To address these limitations, this study aimed to identify and explore multilevel environmental barriers to AT use among a sample of Hispanics in the U.S. METHODS: This was a descriptive qualitative research design study guided by the Social Ecological Model framework using in-depth interviews to collect data. Nine Hispanic individuals with disabilities and their caregivers who received AT services at the University of Illinois at Chicago Assistive Technology Unit outpatient clinic were interviewed. Data was analyzed using a qualitative thematic analysis approach. RESULTS: Barriers to AT use were found to exist in all levels of the Social Ecological Model. The most common barriers to AT use were identified in the community domain, which was related to the lack of AT information, and in the societal domain, which was related to sociocultural norms and the availability of AT funding, policies, and regulations. CONCLUSIONS: The participants' lived experiences and perspectives underscored that environmental barriers to AT use are not isolated occurrences; rather, systemic attitudes permeate across all levels of the Social Ecological Model.
Limited availability of assistive technology information and services in Spanish is a challenge that can impact assistive technology usage.Bridging language and cultural gaps is crucial to ensuring equitable access to assistive technology and rehabilitation services.Multilevel environmental barriers impact assistive technology use, adversely impacting the quality of life and overall well-being of Hispanics with disabilities.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Compared to non-Hispanic white individuals, assistive technology (AT) utilization is lower among Hispanic individuals.1-7 In the US, Spanish is the 2nd most frequently spoken language. Greater than one-fifth of Spanish-speaking households are limited English proficiencty (LEP) households (i.e., all individuals over age 14 in the household speak English less than "very well").8 Availability of AT materials in Spanish is one factor influencing knowledge about and utilization of AT among Spanish-speakers. OBJECTIVE: To examine the availability of Spanish-language AT information on state AT program websites and to assess the relationship between availability and state demographic and linguistic characteristics. METHODS: In 2018, we evaluated 56 state and territory AT program websites for the availability of AT information in Spanish. We calculated 4 measures (US Hispanic population in the state/territory; Hispanic individuals as a proportion of state population; overall Spanish-speaking households, and Spanish-speaking, limited English proficient households) from the 2016 American Community Survey and created ranked lists for each measure. Point biserial (rpb) correlations were calculated to test associations between each measure and availability of AT information in Spanish on each program's website. RESULTS: Sixteen program websites (15 states, 1 territory) provided access to Spanish-language AT information. None of the 4 measures were strongly associated with this outcome (rpb ranged from 0.30 to 0.42). For any of the 4 measures, no more than half of states in the top 10 ranks offered online access to AT information in Spanish. CONCLUSIONS: Improving the online availability of AT information in Spanish is necessary to increase equity in AT utilization among Spanish-speaking people with disabilities.