Abstract
This paper discusses the relationship between policy research and policy change, and it provides examples of the policy research outcomes informed by the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Mobile Wireless Technologies for People with Disabilities’ (Wireless RERC) policy research process. In 2005 and 2006, the center conducted empirical research, using the policy Delphi polling methodology, to probe key stakeholders’ opinions on the most significant issues surrounding the adoption and use of wireless communication and information technologies by people with disabilities. Drawing on the results of three rounds of polling, the Wireless RERC developed a set of policy options, and “fine-tuned” them using participating stakeholders from the disability community, wireless industry, and policymakers.
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Abbreviations
- AAPD:
-
American Association of People with Disabilities
- ADA:
-
Americans with Disabilities Act
- AFB:
-
American Foundation for the Blind
- AT:
-
Assistive technology
- ATIA:
-
Assistive Technology Industry Association
- CAN:
-
Consumer Advisory Network
- CODI:
-
Cornucopia of Disability Information
- CTIA:
-
Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association
- DRO:
-
Disability Rights Office
- EAS:
-
Emergency Alert System
- EDP:
-
Equipment distribution program
- FCC:
-
Federal Communications Commission
- HLAA:
-
Hearing Loss Association of America
- ISO:
-
International Organization for Standardization
- NAD:
-
National Association of the Deaf
- NIDRR:
-
National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research
- RERC:
-
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
- RESNA:
-
Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America
- SMS:
-
Short message service
- TDD:
-
Telecommunications device for the deaf
- TDI:
-
Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc.
- TEDPA:
-
Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program Association
- TTY:
-
Teletypewriter
- UD:
-
Universal design
- VoIP:
-
Voice over Internet Protocol
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Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank the participants of the Policy Delphi and to acknowledge the research assistance of Alan Bakowski, Andrew Ward, Avonne Bell, Lynzee Head, Christine Bellordre, Jason Anavitarte, Andy McNeil, Adam Starr, and Lisa Griffin. The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies has been supported by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the US Department of Education (DOE) under grant number H133E060061, and H133E010804. The opinions contained in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the DOE or NIDRR.
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A preliminary version of this article was presented at the 2008 Cambridge Workshop Series on Universal Access and Assistive Technology (CWUAAT), held at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, April 14–16, 2008.
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Baker, P.M.A., Moon, N.W. Policy development and access to wireless technologies for people with disabilities: results of policy Delphi research. Univ Access Inf Soc 9, 227–237 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-009-0170-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-009-0170-3