RESNA 28th Annual Conference - Atlanta, Georgia
Stephanie G. Martin, BS, Shirley G. Fitzgerald, PhD, Diane M. Collins, PhD, OTR/L,
Amanda Reinsfelder, BS, Annmarie Kelleher, MS, OTR/L, ATP
University of Pittsburgh , Dept. Rehabilitation Science and Technology
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
It is not uncommon for an individual to abandon a piece of assistive technology. This cross-sectional study consisted of a sample of 63 assistance dog owners, which include wheelchair service dogs and hearing dogs, who were compared to 47 individuals with similar characteristics but without assistance dogs. Devices recently abandoned were examined between both groups, and devices that aided in activities of daily living were discarded by those with assistance dogs more often than other types of assistive devices.
Keywords: assistance dogs, wheelchair service dogs, hearing dogs, abandonment
Stephanie G. Martin, BS
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
Human Engineering Research Laboratories
7180 Highland Dr., 151R-1
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
martins@herlpitt.org.