The Consumer Advisory Network

October, 2006 – September, 2011

Progress / Updates

Survey of User Needs (SUN)

The new Survey of User Needs (SUN) is live and available in online and print versions. Respondents may also choose to complete the survey by phone.

Strong Response to new Survey of User Needs (SUN)

From 2001-2006, the Wireless RERC conducted its first Survey of User Needs (SUN).  About 1200 people responded to this survey, and about 2/3 joined our Consumer Advisory Network (CAN).  In 2007, the RERC revised the SUN and again began collecting data.

By December, 2007, both the SUN and CAN had already reached the number of responses achieved from 2001-2006.  This is great news for the RERC and for the wireless industry, since these data help to understand this large and growing customer market.  About 15% of the US population has one or more disabilities.   The data these consumers share through the SUN helps our wireless industry partners in serving customers both with and without disabilities.

The RERC has completed analysis of the first 1200 survey responses, and a report summarizing this analysis is now available. Included in this report is comparison of results between data gathered from 165 individuals who participated in both the 2001-2006 and the 2007 Survey of User Needs.  This allows us to identify trends among long-term wireless customers with disabilities.

Please let us know your experience with wireless devices by participating in the Survey of User Needs.

Project Team

• Jim Mueller, Project Director
• John Morris, PhD
• Brian Jones
• Mike Jones
• Tiffany O’Quinn
• Consultants:  Kenneth Evans, Stephen Wilcox

Problem

• The pace of wireless technology development and adoption requires ongoing input of customers with disabilities to maintain focus on usability.
• Census and other national data sources are inadequate to direct effective development and marketing efforts by wireless industry managers toward people with disabilities.
• User-centered RERC research and development projects require ready access to representative persons with disabilities.

Approach

• Refine RERC’s Survey of User Needs to increase survey response and to address commercial and research needs for input from representative users with disabilities

• Re-survey 2001-2006 CAN members to identify changes in usage and usability of wireless technologies
• Build relationships with local, regional, and national organizations for persons with disabilities toward greater consumer involvement in wireless research and development
• Expand RERC’s current Consumer Advisory Network, with focus on equitable representation of demographic diversity in U.S. population of persons with disabilities.
• Facilitate involvement of CAN members as planned in RERC research and development projects

Publications

• CAN Newsletter - Spring, 2008

Resources / Links

• Birmingham Independent Living Center           
• Latin American Association         
• Mental Health America of Georgia
• Southeast ADA Center      

Previous Wireless RERC Project (2001 - 2006)

• Assessment of User Needs

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