ADLS Evaluation Form

Welcome to the ADLS-on-the-Web
On-Line Evaluation

Dear ADLS User:

Thank you for participating in the on-going evaluation of ADLS-on-the-Web. When reviewing ADLS, please remember that the information is being edited continually and company and device data may change daily. Similarly, the categories are not exhaustive of recent developments in adaptive and assistive aids and accessories.

ADLS-on-the-Web is based on an earlier product designed and manufactured by our company. ADLS-for-Microcomputers shipped on floppy disks and CD-ROMs. This system was used widely in computer and family resource centers, libraries, schools, and other institutions and has been updated periodically eight times. The ADLS-on-the-Web project was conceived to make the system more widely accessible to the individual with a disability and his or her family and to institutions and professionals who work with individuals with disabilities who do not have access to the computer-based system.

At this time, we are interested in your reaction to the ADLS presentation format and search process. In particular, how well do ADLS-like Internet systems provide access to the types of information about adaptive and assistive devices needed by individuals with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who assist them. Please focus on these aspects of the interactive system. Comments or assistance you care to give regarding extending or updating the system will be appreciated and used, but please try not to let limitations in content influence your evaluation of the presentation format and search process.

The protocol for this evaluation follows three steps:

Familiarizing yourself with ADLS-on-the-Web
Conducting a search and documenting it using the on-line "Search Report" form below.
Completing the on-line demographic form and reaction questionnaire below.

Please begin by scrolling down through this evaluation report, reading the the first section entitled "Search Report" and skimming the other sections for general content.

Then return to the ADLS home page and read the "User Instructions." Next, try out the Locator System, to gain familiarity by exploration. If you have difficulty, return to the ADLS home page and take the link to "Trouble-Shooting."

Now follow the instructions in the "Search Report." Conceptualize a function or purpose for your search that possibly could be facilitated by an adaptive device of some kind. Then use ADLS to conduct your search, noting the decision branches you followed and the types of devices you found.

Return to this page and complete the entire evaluation form. The form page seems lengthy but can be completed in a surprising short time. Your comments and suggestions are very important and there is plenty of room for them on the form. When completely filled out, click on the "Submit" button at the bottom to send your evaluation responses.

If you would like to test ADLS with one or more of your colleagues or clients, please ask each person to submit a separate evaluation form. The data that you and your colleagues provide will help shape ADLS-on-the-Web as an information resource and tool for special populations throughout the world.

ADLS EVALUATION SEARCH REPORT

After you have practiced a little, familiarized yourself with ADLS, and become comfortable using the web site, assume that you are going to conduct a search for a device to meet certain functional needs of a person with a disability.

PART A - Search Database: Please check the box below that indicates the major category area for your search.

Existence Environmental Adaptation

Communication Rehabilitation

In-Situ Motion Sports & Recreation

Travel

PART B - Your Search Topic: Briefly describe the functional goal, purpose, or topic of your search. For example:

Communication: I want to locate a device that will hold a pen for me.
Adaptation: I want to be able to water my house plants.

PART C - Conducting Your Search: Select categories and subcategories appropriate for your search based on the information provided by the decision aids. Sharpen the goal definition as you move deeper into the Locator system.

What device or group of devices did you locate in response to your search topic?

How much back tracking or sideways searching was necessary before you were comfortable with the results of your search?

Excessive Considerable Moderate A Little Proceeded directly to target

PART D - Utility: Considering both the search process and the results of your search (e.g., device descriptions, pictures, vendor information), how useful would this search have been in actual practice?

Worthless Little Value Worthwhile Very Helpful Extremely Useful

DEMOGRAPHIC DATA FORM

In the spaces below, briefly describe yourself and your organization so that we can build a summary description of our respondent sample.

PART I (optional): Please provide your name and address if you would like to be sent follow-up information about further ADLS development and testing. (Respondents who complete the entire evaluation form will be sent a coupon worth 10% off any ASI product order.)

Name:

Organization:

Address:

E-Mail Address:

PART II: Indicate your position, specialty area, and/or role as an evaluator.

Child with a disability Physical therapist

Adult with a disability Speech therapist

Senior adult with a disability Occupational therapist

Parent or primary care-giver Assistive technology specialist

Student Vocational or rehab counselor

Regular educ teacher Rehabilitation engineer

Special educ teacher Special programs mgr/dir

University faculty Assistive technology vendor

State/fed educ agency admin Educational consultant

Residential institution admin Other

PART III: Describe your experience with assistive technology and individuals with special needs. (Examples: years as a teacher, therapist, parent, user of adaptive devices)

PART IV: If you are an individual with a disability, what types of adaptive equipment do you use frequently? Include single switch and other computer access devices as well as equipment used in other areas of life: e.g., wheelchairs, augmentative communication devices, environmental controls, etc.

PART V: If you work within an organization, indicate its nature, its mission or purpose, and its needs regarding information about adaptive technology.

PART VI: What type of computer and browser did you use to access ADLS-on-the-Web?

Macintosh Power PC Netscape

Macintosh 68xxx CPU Internet Explorer

PC Pentium or newer AOL Browser

PC 486 or other Other browser

ADLS REACTION QUESTIONNAIRE

Part A: Your General Reactions

Reaction Variable	Poor ... OK ... Great!	Comments
How easy was ADLS to use in conducting your searches?	1 2 3 4 5
Was it easy to navigate from one part of ADLS to another?	1 2 3 4 5
How did you like the formats used to present screen information?	1 2 3 4 5
What was your reaction to the loading speed of the web site?	1 2 3 4 5
Your reaction to the system response time once the site was loaded?	1 2 3 4 5
Could you move smoothly through ADLS categories and devices?	1 2 3 4 5
Were the category descriptions useful decision aids for searching?	1 2 3 4 5
Were the category descriptions clear and easy to understand?	1 2 3 4 5
Were the device descriptions clear and informative?	1 2 3 4 5
Your reaction to the ADLS graphics and line drawings?	1 2 3 4 5
How important are good graphics, actual pictures, video clips, and animations?	1 2 3 4 5
Utility of the displayed vendor information?	1 2 3 4 5
Reaction to the ability to link directly to vendor web sites?	1 2 3 4 5
Reaction to ability to email groups of vendors automatically?	1 2 3 4 5
Reaction to ability to print customized letters to vendors?	1 2 3 4 5
Reaction to the ADLS User Instructions?	1 2 3 4 5
Did you notice typographic, grammatic, or mechanical errors?	1 2 3 4 5
Reaction to the accessibility of the Locator System?	1 2 3 4 5
To what extent does ADLS meet a need for interactive systems to help people locate information about adaptive devices?	1 2 3 4 5
How frequently will consumers and professionals access ADLS-on-the-Web?	1 2 3 4 5

Part B: Desired New Features

Reaction Variable	Poor ... OK ... Great!	Comments
Ability to change font sizes in index and text windows.	1 2 3 4 5
More color graphics and actual pictures.	1 2 3 4 5
More animations and video clips of devices in use.	1 2 3 4 5
Ability to send vendor emails and letters without having to re-enter information	1 2 3 4 5
Alternative search strategies - e.g., "keyword" or "brand" searches	1 2 3 4 5
Extension of the Locator to the specific device level, with product specifications, pricing data, and user ratings.	1 2 3 4 5

Part C: Please provide any additional comments that you feel would be useful to the ADLS-on-the-Web project staff.

Thank you very much for your time and assistance.

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