Exploring assistive technology and post-school outcomes for students with severe disabilities

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation research
• Special education technology

Background:

• Assistive technology (AT) is crucial for students with severe disabilities.
• Understanding AT provision and its impact on post-school outcomes is vital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the extent of AT use in and out of school for students with severe disabilities.
• To examine the relationship between in-school AT receipt and post-school outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of the National Longitudinal Study-2 (NLTS2).
• Employed correlational methods including frequency distributions, Chi Square Tests, significance tests, and logistic regressions.

Main Results:

• AT receipt varied significantly by disability identification for both in-school and post-school settings.
• Post-school AT receipt was generally lower than in-school receipt.
• Few statistically significant differences in post-school outcomes were observed between students who did and did not receive AT.

Conclusions:

• There appears to be an under-utilization of AT for students with severe disabilities in the USA.
• Improved collaboration between rehabilitation and school professionals is needed for service continuity.
• Further research is required to understand factors influencing adult outcomes for individuals with severe disabilities.