Region 5: The Quality Indicators of Assistive Technology in Postsecondary Institutions (QIAT-PS) Research Project

The goal of this project is to identify the essential disability rights and self-advocacy knowledge/skills that students with disabilities need to most effectively utilize AT. The research will also explore the role of student services in supporting students in their self-advocacy and disability rights efforts in relation to their assistive technology (AT) use. First, we will conduct a comprehensive literature review on barriers and facilitators to AT use amongst youth with disabilities in post secondary education. Next, findings from the literature reviews will be used to develop an item bank on the core civil rights and self-advocacy knowledge/skills that students with disabilities need to most effectively utilize AT. The item bank will be a part of survey that is developed using the Delphi Process. Next, we conduct interviews with student service staff and to explore how they support students in their self-advocacy and disability rights efforts in relation to AT use. We will also conduct interview with students with disabilities who use AT and have accessed disability support services.