Electronic mail as a service delivery option for individuals with physical disabilities

1990 - 1991

Investigators & Staff

• E MacKinnon
• J Scott
• G King

Funding Agency

Easter Seal Research Institute - $11,737 (1990-1991)

Summary

This pilot study evaluated the use of e-mail in providing clinical and technical assistance to
individuals with physical disabilities from an augmentative communication service.

Sixteen individuals with physical disabilities, ranging in age from 7 to 25 years and meeting specific study inclusion criteria, were randomly assigned to receive either the electronic mail service for a period of approximately six months (n=7) or to a control group (n=9).

Satisfaction questionnaires were completed by both groups at predetermined time intervals and both the number of independent contacts by subjects and number of contacts by caregivers were recorded. As expected, subjects in the e-mail condition made an appreciably greater number of independent contacts than did their control group counterparts. Satisfaction with the e-mail service decreased over time as technical problems were encountered with the particular telecommunication system that was employed. It was concluded that an e-mail service is useful only for programs able to provide extensive, ongoing support to users. A reliable, user-friendly telecommunication system is essential. Such a service can have appreciable benefit in terms of enabling nonspeaking individuals to have an independent means of communication with service providers.

To read more about this study, please refer to:

MacKinnon, E., King, G., Cathers, T., & Scott, J. (1995). Electronic mail: Service from afar for individuals with physical disabilities. Journal of Augmentative and Alternative Communication, 11, 236-243.

Impact

• Electronic mail increased the number of independent contacts made by nonspeaking children to service providers, in comparison to a group of children not using it.
• A reliable, user-friendly telecommunication system can have appreciable benefit by enabling nonspeaking individuals to have an independent means of communication with service providers.