Guidelines to assistive technology-related research and development in US federal agencies

This article outlines assistive technology (A/T)-related research and development (R&D) resources in the US Federal Government. Readers will find guidelines to these resources including Internet World Wide Websites (WWW) addresses and other references for 12 Federal departments and organizations, including their respective agencies and programs. Also, there are guidelines that outline two interdepartmental programs and one organization with members drawn from multiple federal agencies. These guidelines identify opportunities for AT-related R&D activities in the programs and agencies of each department/organization. An Internet webmap table summaries the key www addresses identified. Readers will discover how agency program technology and/or the application connections relate to A/T-related R&D activities for addressing the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities. The author formulates a definition to follow for A/T-related R&D that entails the development, evaluation, technology transfer and/or commercialization of technologies and applications for devices that increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities through scientific, engineering and/or entrepreneurial research activities of agency programs.