Survey Procedures

Several stakeholder groups were contacted by telephone to determine their willingness to participate in the survey, prior to receiving the survey materials. A cover letter with a brief description of the purpose of the survey, instructions, and a survey questionnaire were mailed to representatives of the eight stakeholder groups selected to participate in the survey. The instrument was similar to the questionnaire field-tested and used in phase 1 of the study. The survey questions were modified to reflect each stakeholder group and a sixth question was added. These six questions were designed to obtain baseline data concerning stakeholder preferences in obtaining information, as well as how they disseminate information to their consumers. The survey questions are presented below.

Following the sample selection, survey materials were mailed and participants were asked to respond within two weeks. Forms were initially coded to facilitate follow-up. If responses were not received within two weeks of the mailing of materials, follow-up contacts were made by telephone and/or by mail.

The Survey Questions

1. How does your organization usually get information that you use?
   (Check all that apply. Some examples are given for each answer. Space is provided if you would like to include specific examples.)
   • Popular media (television, radio, movies, videos, etc.):
   • Print media (books, magazines, newspapers, pamphlets, brochures, etc.):
   • Non-print media (Braille, audio tapes, readers, etc.):
   • Professional people (doctors, lawyers, teachers, caseworkers, etc.):
   • Other people (parents, family, friends, co-workers, etc.):
   • Groups (meetings, workshops, classes, conferences, etc.):
   • Computer (electronic mail, Internet, etc.):
   • Other (Brief description):
2. What ways does your organization like to get information?
   (Check all that apply.)
   • Regular Print
   • Large Print
   • Braille
   • Audio Tape
   • Video Tape
   • CD-ROM
   • Computer (file/disk)
   • Computer (online)
   • Non-English language:
     • Spanish,
     • Other:
   • Other (Brief description)
3. Do your organization ever get information from the Internet?
   (Please check one best answer.)
   • Very often
   • Often
   • Only once or twice
   • Never
   • Don't know
4. Is information from disability research useful to your organization?
   (Please check one best answer.)
   • Yes
   • No
   • Don't Know
5. Do your organization have a way to find information from disability research?
   (Please check one best answer.)
   • Yes
   • No
   • Don't Know
6. How does your organization usually get information to your consumers?
   (Check all that apply.)
   • Personal communication
   • Newsletters
   • Information mail outs
   • Meetings
   • Electronic mail
   • Computer online (Internet, World Wide Web)
   • Telephone/information line
   • Fax
   • Training sessions/classes/workshops
   • Library/information holdings
   • Reports
   • Other (please describe):

Response Rate

A total of 1,789 surveys were sent and 851 completed surveys were returned, for an overall response rate of 48 percent. Table 1 presents the number of surveys sent to each stakeholder group, the number responding and the response rate for each group. The table is rank-ordered according to the response rate. First, the overall stakeholders' response rate is presented, followed by the individual groups in descending order.

As Table 1 illustrates, the State Directors of Special Education (SDSE) had the highest response rate (96 percent). Forty-nine out of 51 surveys were returned for this stakeholder group. Client Assistance Programs/Advocacy and Protection Agencies (CAP/APA) had the second highest response rate of 80 percent. Twenty-eight of the 32 surveys sent to CAPs were returned (response rate of 88 percent) and thirty-six of the 48 APAs responded (response rate of 75 percent). Of the 380 surveys sent to administrators of independent living organizations (IL), 267, or 70 percent, were completed and returned. Participants from these three groups received follow-up telephone calls and letters if responses were not sent within two weeks.

Responses were received from 112 of the 201 disability media representatives for a response rate of 56 percent. Administrators of rehabilitation facilities (RF) had the next highest response rate with almost half (49 percent) responding. Eighty two of 169 surveys were completed and returned. Of the 82 surveys sent to members of RESNA, five were returned as undeliverable and these were not used in the calculation of the response rate. Twenty-eight of the remaining 77 members included in the sample of RESNA returned completed surveys for a response rate of 36 percent. The two stakeholder groups with the lowest response rates were the Committees on Employment of People with Disabilities (CEPD) and the Legislators/Aides (LEG). These two groups had response rates of 32 percent and 25 percent, respectively. Participants from these groups received follow-up letters if responses were not received within two weeks after the survey materials were sent.

Table 1

Key

Key to Acronyms used in the tables and figures that follow

Rehabilitation Researchers:

RESNA=Members of the Rehabilitative Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America

Service Providers:

IL=Administrators of Independent Living Organizations

RF=Administrators of Medical Rehabilitation Facilities

Supporters:

CAP/APA=Directors of Client Assistance Programs/Advocacy and Protection Agencies

Policymakers/Information Sources:

SDSE=State Directors of Special Education

LEG=Federal and State Legislators/Aides

CEPD=Members of Committees on Employment of People with Disabilities

MEDIA=Disability Media Representatives

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