Ethics and assistive technology: Potential issues for AT service providers

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to report on the results of a survey intended to explore Assistive Technology Professionals’ (ATPs’) perceptions of what constitutes an ethical dilemma and their perceived confidence in addressing such issues. This study implemented an exploratory-descriptive design. A total of 214 ATPs responded to the ATP Ethics Survey. Findings suggest that most of the ATPs participants of this study reported having received ethics education. In addition, results indicated that defining what constitutes an ethical dilemma, particularly related to client/patient issues, and defining an ethical decision-making process are areas that warrant more education and development. While the results of this study only represent the self-reported experiences of those 214 ATPs that answered this survey, these suggest that there is a need for professionals in the AT area to further explore and discuss the impact of ethical situations in their practice. Further studies should continue to explore ethics training and decision-making processes in the provision of assistive technology services. Such explorations and subsequent training should be conducted in collaboration with professional organizations and their respective leadership.