Mapping the Future of Assistive Technology for Adults
For many disabled adults, finding the right assistive technology has never been as simple as walking into a store, talking with a provider, or clicking “best option” online.
Instead, it often looks like this:
Hours of research.
Conflicting recommendations.
Products that sound promising but fail in real life.
Insurance barriers.
Tools that cost too much.
Devices that were clearly not designed with lived experience in mind.
And for far too many people, it becomes a process of trial, error, frustration, and figuring it out alone.
That is exactly why the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation’s Disability Tech Index Assistive Tech Experience Survey matters.
Powered by CPARF, this initiative is gathering firsthand experiences from disabled individuals, caregivers, and professionals to help build a clearer picture of what assistive technology actually works, where it falls short, and where innovation is still urgently needed. The project is designed to create a free, publicly available resource rooted in lived experience—not assumptions.
More Than a Survey—A Conversation
One of the most refreshing aspects of this initiative is that it does not feel like another overwhelming form.
Instead of long checkboxes and endless pages, participants are guided through a conversational AI-driven interview designed to feel more natural, flexible, and accessible.
Participants can:
- Complete it at their own pace
- Pause and return later
- Share as much or as little as they choose
- Submit partial responses that still contribute to the research
Most interviews take approximately 15–20 minutes, and every experience—whether positive, frustrating, incomplete, or still evolving—matters.
Who Should Participate?
This survey is open to people whose lives have been shaped by assistive technology, including individuals living with:
- Physical disabilities
- Sensory disabilities
- Cognitive disabilities
- Neurological disabilities
- Chronic health conditions
It also welcomes:
- Caregivers
- Family members
- Support professionals
- Clinicians and disability service providers
Because those who walk alongside disabled individuals often see the gaps just as clearly as those living them.
Why This Matters to the CP Community
At Cerebral Palsy Positive, we know assistive technology can be life-changing.
It can mean:
- Greater independence
- More effective communication
- Better mobility
- Improved safety
- Increased participation in work, education, and community life
But we also know the other side of that story.
We know what it feels like when:
- A device is recommended that does not fit real-world needs
- Insurance denies access
- Technology exists but remains hidden
- Products are marketed as “accessible” but fail in practice
- Adults with lifelong disabilities are overlooked in innovation conversations
When disabled people are left out of the feedback loop, the same problems keep repeating.
Good tools stay hidden.
Bad tools keep getting recommended.
Real gaps never receive the attention—or investment—they deserve.
That has to change.
Your Experience Is Data. Your Voice Is Direction.
Whether you have found technology that transformed your life…
or tools that disappointed you…
Whether you are an adult living with cerebral palsy…
a caregiver navigating systems…
or a professional supporting the disability community…
Your experience has value.
And right now, it has the power to help shape what comes next.
Take the Survey
Disability Tech Index Assistive Tech Experience Survey
Please consider participating—and just as importantly, sharing it with others in your networks.
The more honest, nuanced feedback CPARF receives, the stronger this resource becomes for everyone who depends on assistive technology.
Because assistive technology should never be a guessing game.
It should be built—and improved—with the people who actually live it.
Related Posts
