People with disabilities are more likely to be sedentary, have greater health problems, and have more barriers to participating in physical activity than the general population. American Foundation for the Blind researchers are investigating what urban community features facilitate or inhibit physical activity for people who use different Assistive Mobility Technologies. Assistive Mobility Technology is any tool which helps a person move through the environment. This exploratory study will focus specifically on four: long cane, guide dog, manual wheelchair, and motorized wheelchair. Data will be collected in New York City using surveys, interviews, and observation of study participants in community settings. In addition to understanding the relationship between the physical environment and assistive mobility, the researchers aim to derive policy-relevant lessons that can be shared with policy makers.
