Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to investigate how electronic communication aids equipments were daily used by the severely physically disabled. Electronic communication aids equipments are those that help the severely physically disabled, such as people with quadriplegic and upper extremities, to communicate with others. In 1990, the electronic communication aids equipments were included in the provision items of equipments for the severely physically disabled. However, few studies have investigated how the equipments were daily used by the disabled after provision without a specialist's help. In the present study, four electronic communication aids equipments users (two patients in the hospital, one homebound disabled, and one patient at home) were investigated. The main results were as follows : (1) Little information as to the communication aids equipments was available to most of the disabled ; (2) It was very difficult for two disabled of the cases to learn how to use the communication aids equipments by lacking of both physical and mental abilities ; (3) With patient's deteriorating decease it became more and more difficult for her to use the communication aids equipments ; and (4) Adjusting the communication aids equipments in detail according to individual condition was indispensable to practical use. For the reasons mentioned above, it was suggested that the coordinator who knew the mechanics, assessed the user's conditions and could adjust both sides was very important for more appropriate utilization of the electronic communication aids equipments.
