Access to Assistive Technology (AT) Information in Spanish on State and Territory Program Websites

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Abstract

Despite standing policy (Executive Order 13166) that requires federally-funded agencies to develop and implement linguistic access plans to facilitate access to information and ultimately services, linguistic barriers to access remain. Within the world of disability services, limited attention has been focused on the experiences of individuals with disabilities who are limited in their English proficiency (LEP) or are part of an LEP household.

We evaluated the online availability of Spanish-language information on assistive technology (AT), a set of tools that facilitate daily tasks for those with functional needs and the services to obtain and maintain these tools.Hispanics with disabilities report disparities in access to and utilization of assistive technology across the life course.

In 2018, two researchers on our team independently reviewed all 56 federally-funded state and territory AT program websites for AT information in Spanish. Researchers met to address discrepancies and reach consensus. If no AT information in Spanish was identified, we contacted state programs to verify. We found only fifteen states and one territory had AT information in Spanish available on their AT program websites.

We then compared this list to our calculations of ranked state lists by 2016 American Community Survey demographic (percent US Hispanic population, Hispanics as proportion of state population) and linguistic (percent Spanish-speaking households, percent Spanish-speaking limited English proficiency household) measures. We found that less than half of the top-10 ranked states by demographic or linguistic measures offer AT information in Spanish on their state AT program websites.

We conclude with a discussion of the limited implementation of existing policy and the onus to address the AT information needs of individuals with disabilities in LEP households, and those who are themselves LEP as way to ameliorate disparities in AT utilization.

Authors

• Brian R. Grossman, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Angelica Martinez, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Ellyn McNamara, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Patricia Politano, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Kruti Acharya, University of Illinois at Chicago

• Regina Meza, University of Illinois at Chicago