Technology for independence: a community-based resource center.
Despite the prominence of the disability civil rights model--with its values of inclusion and empowerment--the majority of social and policy research conducted to date has not sufficiently included the perspective of persons with disabilities in the research process and as uniquely qualified researchers themselves. This article describes a new project, "Technology for Independence: A Community-Based Resource Center" (CBRC). Over a five-year period, the CBRC will attempt to enhance community and consumer-directed disability organizations to design, implement, and disseminate research that promotes access to and use of assistive technology (AT). The CBRC will use strategies such as leadership training, participatory action research, technical assistance, web-assisted training, and annual symposia. A primary goal of the CBRC is to increase the capacity of community organizations to conduct research on AT that is scientifically rigorous and relevant to disability services, policy, and law.
Blanck
Peter
P
University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, IA 52242-1113, USA. peter-blanck@uiowa.edu
Ritchie
Heather
H
Schmeling
James
J
Klein
David
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012946:Social Welfare; D013672:Technology; D014481:United States