Tentative findings of a study of the technology needs and use patterns of persons with mental retardation.

Ingham et al. (1992) mailed a survey to 680 adults with intellectual disability. They asked which technologies people wanted most and how much they could pay.

The survey listed items like computers, credit plans, and transport aids. Most people said they could spend under one thousand dollars.

Computers topped the wish list. Over half of the group also wanted help paying for the gear.

Low-cost credit and ride help were big needs too. Price, not desire, was the main barrier.

Leaf et al. (2012) ran the same survey twenty years later. Computer use had shot up, but other assistive tech stayed flat. The 1992 call for credit help still rings true.

McMillan et al. (1999) took the next step. They showed that computer-delivered picture prompts beat paper cards for teaching daily tasks. The need spotted in 1992 turned into a working tool.

Walsh et al. (2020) added a jobs twist. They used a tech quiz to match adults with autism and ID to preferred work. Productivity rose even when skill fit was poor. The 1992 dream of tech for daily life keeps growing.

Your clients likely still want tech they cannot afford. Ask about payment plans, grants, or low-interest loans before you write a goal. A cheap tablet and clear pictorial prompts may do more than a stack of laminated cards. Start with one device and track how it boosts choice, work, or daily living skills.