Big bureaucracies are notoriously bad at adopting new technology and realizing its real potential. Those of us who have worked in CubicleLand could probably swap stories about how we were forced to use outdated computers and software long after newer, better options became available on store shelves. Insurance companies and government agencies are plagued with similar inertia when when approving assistive technology purchases for individuals with communication disabilities. The rapid spread of fast, cheap, and ridiculously portable computers has created a technological environment where functions like speech synthesis can be easily included as an application. But as the Times reports, insurers are refusing to cover low-cost devices like netbooks and smartphones in favor of proprietary computer systems that cost thousands of dollars. Insurers explain that they can only pay for devices that address a specific medical need. But this requirement leads to some pretty absurd outcomes. Manufacturers of these expensive computers actually disable the general-purpose functions of their systems so they can’t be used to browse the Web or send an e-mail.
These specialty manufacturers also benefit from the huge price markups they place on items that should be relatively inexpensive. Prentke Romich, the company behind the HeadMaster I use to access my computer, charges $250 for a Bluetooth adapter. Companies can get away with this kind of price gouging because most of the cost is picked up by insurers and, until recently, these companies didn’t have much competition from the general marketplace.
There will always be some need for highly specialized assistive technology, but insurers would be committing gross acts of negligence if they didn’t explore the merits of cheaper, smaller devices that can allow a person to communicate with ease and efficiency, even if they can also be used to as Internet or casual gaming devices. And manufacturers of specialized equipment would do well to remember that it’s now relatively to look up the street prices of computer components. Finally, mainstream device manufacturers might want to study how people with disabilities use their technology and make the necessary tweaks or add-ons that significantly expand their customer base.
