Psychosocial Variables Related to the Adoption of Video Relay Services Among Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Employees at the Texas School for the Deaf

Abstract

Assistive technology (AT) can help individuals with disabilities address a range of barriers and increase community and work participation, yet many devices are abandoned soon after acquisition. Video Relay Service (VRS) is a new communication technology available to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, but little is known about VRS adoption and use by intended consumers. Previous research suggests that psychosocial factors may have significant impact on adoption and use of AT, thus a nonexperimental research design was used to investigate the impact of psychosocial and demographic variables on adoption of VRS by deaf or hard-of-hearing adults. Participating employees of the Texas School for the Deaf completed a demographic based on Rogers's characteristics of adopters of innovations, along with the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Device Scale (PIADS), a 26-item self-report of psychosocial factors related to independence, well-being, and quality of life. Multiple Discriminant Analysis indicated that variables of Competence, Adaptability, and Self-Esteem were predictive of VRS adoption. Of demographic variables, only Training was highly correlated to Competence and Adaptability. Possible limitations include novelty effect and transferability. Recommendations for future research are included.