Making Decisions About Assistive Technology With Infants and Toddlers

Abstract

The present study examined and contrasted beliefs and decision-making practices concerning the use of assistive technology (AT) with infants and toddlers. Participants were 424 multidisciplinary early intervention providers drawn from across the United States. A majority of professionals disagreed with proposed belief statements about AT with infants and toddlers. Decision-making practices, however, followed the reported trend of underutilization of AT in early intervention in that providers did not generally select AT options until children were older than 24 months. Reported beliefs were not associated with decision-making practices. Future research and training should focus on factors that are likely to influence the decisions that professionals make in practice.