Paying for assistive technology: a study of Hispanics.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to learn about the methods that Hispanics utilise to pay for assistive technology (AT) and how these compare with a National sample of non-Hispanic participants who answered the same survey in a previous project.


METHODS
This secondary analysis combined two studies - a National Study and a targeted study of Hispanics - a follow-up study that purposively sought out Hispanics, due to their lower representation in the national sample.


RESULTS
This study found that Hispanics pay for AT out of their own pocket or relied on extended family rather than government programmes. The study also found that Hispanics utilised private insurance less than their counterparts in the National study.


CONCLUSIONS
This study raises questions about the reach of government programmes, meant to enhance the access of underrepresented groups to AT, established by the AT legislation. Further studies are needed to explore whether participants are not accessing this programmes or are failing to identify them as resources.
Guzman
Alberto
A
Department of Disability and Human Development, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60608, USA. aguzma1@uic.edu
D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D019458:Insurance Coverage / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012656:Self-Help Devices / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*