Article

OBJECTIVE: To identify the current level of awareness of different computer
access technologies and the choices made regarding mode of access by youth with
cerebral palsy (CP) and their families. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: Two
tertiary-level rehabilitation centers in New Zealand and Canada. PARTICIPANTS:
Youth (N=60) with CP, Manual Ability Classification Scale (MACS) levels I to V,
age 13 to 25 years. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:
Questionnaire. RESULTS: Fifty (83%) of the 60 youth were aware of at least 1
available assistive technology (AT), such as touch screens and joysticks.
However, only 34 youth (57%) were familiar with the accessibility options
currently available in the most common operating systems. Thirty-three (94%) of
35 youth who were MACS I and II used a standard mouse and keyboard, while few
chose to use assistive technology or accessibility options. In contrast, 10 (40%)
of 25 youth who were MACS III to V used a variety of assistive technologies such
as touch screens, joysticks, trackballs, and scanning technologies. This group
also had the highest use of accessibility options, although only 15 (60%) of the
25 were aware of them. CONCLUSION: Most youth with CP were aware of, and used,
assistive technologies to enhance their computer access but were less
knowledgeable about accessibility options. Accessibility options allow users to
modify their own computer interface and can thus enhance computer access for
youth with CP. Clinicians should be knowledgeable enough to give informed advice
in this area of computer access, thus ensuring that all youth with CP can benefit
from both AT and accessibility options, as required.
CI - Copyright (c) 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS