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Supporting Effective Alternative Access for Individuals with Physical Disabilities: State of the Science, Emerging Technologies, and Future Research Directions

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Title: Supporting Effective Alternative Access for Individuals with Physical Disabilities: State of the Science, Emerging Technologies, and Future Research Directions
Language: English
Authors: Heidi Koester, Susan Koch Fager (ORCID 0000-0001-8125-5977), Jessica Gormley (ORCID 0000-0001-5141-8421), Erik Jakobs (ORCID 0000-0001-9196-9914), Kelli Johnsen, Jon Brumberg
Source: Augmentative and Alternative Communication. 2025 41(3):304-317.
Availability: Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) (DHHS/ACL)
Contract Number: 90REGE0014
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Descriptors: Physical Disabilities, Accessibility (for Disabled), Keyboarding (Data Entry), Assistive Technology, Man Machine Systems, Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Brain, Interaction
DOI: 10.1080/07434618.2025.2499676
ISSN: 0743-4618
Abstract: Alternative access methods accommodate an individual's specific physical disability, by adjusting the typical keyboard/mouse/touchscreen interface or using an alternative interface such as head controls, eye trackers, or switches. Ideally, they allow for efficient and comfortable use of any computing device, such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This paper reviews the literature to address two main questions: how well do existing access methods meet users' needs? And what is the best way to choose the "right" access method(s) for a given individual? We report on typing speeds for various access methods across 57 studies, as well as experimental multimodal access methods across 34 papers. Results support the intuitive understanding that the access method affects the end user's experience and productivity. We also reviewed 33 papers and resources related to alternative access assessment and service provision. Existing evidence remains emerging and suggests that use of a systematic, user-centered approach to alternative access assessment may reap significant benefits, including better team performance and improved user satisfaction. Yet although many alternative access assessment resources are available, providers may not always use them. While today's alternative access methods can be an impactful means of enabling participation for people with physical disabilities, there is room for improvement, both in the access methods themselves, as well as their associated service provision and support. To identify and implement these improvements, the field needs research and development that is fully inclusive of people with disabilities in all phases of the work. We list some additional priorities for future work.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1y19Prix8Hc8bDLWifp1veCxdLQVSmnDLwQNETiY6OxQ/edit?usp=sharing
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502067
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Supporting Effective Alternative Access for Individuals with Physical Disabilities: State of the Science, Emerging Technologies, and Future Research Directions
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Heidi+Koester%22">Heidi Koester</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Susan+Koch+Fager%22">Susan Koch Fager</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8125-5977">0000-0001-8125-5977</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jessica+Gormley%22">Jessica Gormley</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5141-8421">0000-0001-5141-8421</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Erik+Jakobs%22">Erik Jakobs</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9196-9914">0000-0001-9196-9914</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kelli+Johnsen%22">Kelli Johnsen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jon+Brumberg%22">Jon Brumberg</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Augmentative+and+Alternative+Communication%22"><i>Augmentative and Alternative Communication</i></searchLink>. 2025 41(3):304-317.
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  Data: Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 14
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  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) (DHHS/ACL)
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  Label: Contract Number
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  Data: 90REGE0014
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+Disabilities%22">Physical Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Accessibility+%28for+Disabled%29%22">Accessibility (for Disabled)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Keyboarding+%28Data+Entry%29%22">Keyboarding (Data Entry)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Assistive+Technology%22">Assistive Technology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Man+Machine+Systems%22">Man Machine Systems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Augmentative+and+Alternative+Communication%22">Augmentative and Alternative Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Brain%22">Brain</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interaction%22">Interaction</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1080/07434618.2025.2499676
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0743-4618
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Alternative access methods accommodate an individual's specific physical disability, by adjusting the typical keyboard/mouse/touchscreen interface or using an alternative interface such as head controls, eye trackers, or switches. Ideally, they allow for efficient and comfortable use of any computing device, such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This paper reviews the literature to address two main questions: how well do existing access methods meet users' needs? And what is the best way to choose the "right" access method(s) for a given individual? We report on typing speeds for various access methods across 57 studies, as well as experimental multimodal access methods across 34 papers. Results support the intuitive understanding that the access method affects the end user's experience and productivity. We also reviewed 33 papers and resources related to alternative access assessment and service provision. Existing evidence remains emerging and suggests that use of a systematic, user-centered approach to alternative access assessment may reap significant benefits, including better team performance and improved user satisfaction. Yet although many alternative access assessment resources are available, providers may not always use them. While today's alternative access methods can be an impactful means of enabling participation for people with physical disabilities, there is room for improvement, both in the access methods themselves, as well as their associated service provision and support. To identify and implement these improvements, the field needs research and development that is fully inclusive of people with disabilities in all phases of the work. We list some additional priorities for future work.
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  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
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  Label: Notes
  Group: Note
  Data: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1y19Prix8Hc8bDLWifp1veCxdLQVSmnDLwQNETiY6OxQ/edit?usp=sharing
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
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  Data: EJ1502067
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1502067
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        Value: 10.1080/07434618.2025.2499676
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      – Text: English
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Physical Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Accessibility (for Disabled)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Keyboarding (Data Entry)
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      – SubjectFull: Assistive Technology
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      – SubjectFull: Man Machine Systems
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      – SubjectFull: Augmentative and Alternative Communication
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      – SubjectFull: Brain
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      – SubjectFull: Interaction
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