A Pilot Evaluation of mHealth App Accessibility for Three Top-Rated Weight Management Apps by People with Disabilities.

Growing evidence demonstrates that people with disabilities face more challenges in accessing healthcare and wellness resources, compared to non-disabled populations. As mobile applications focused on health and wellness (mHealth apps) become prevalent, it is important that people with disabilities can access and use mHealth apps. At present, there is no source of unified information about the accessibility and usability of mHealth apps for people with disabilities. We set out to create such a source, establishing a systematic approach for evaluating app accessibility. Our goal was to develop a simple, replicable app evaluation process to generate useful information for people with disabilities (to aid suitable app selection) and app developers (to improve app accessibility and usability). We collected data using two existing assessment instruments to test three top-rated weight management apps with nine users representing three disability groups: vision, dexterity, and cognitive impairment. Participants with visual impairments reported the lowest accessibility ratings, most challenges, and least tolerance for issues. Participants with dexterity impairments experienced significant accessibility-related difficulties. Participants with cognitive impairments experienced mild difficulties and higher tolerances for issues. Our pilot protocol will be applied to test mHealth apps and populate a "curation" website to assist consumers in selecting mHealth apps.

Regulating hearing aid compatibility of cell phones: results from a national survey.

Accessibility of telecommunication technologies by people who are deaf or hard of hearing has been a critical issue since the invention of the telephone. As both telephone and hearing-aid technologies have evolved, finding compatible solutions has been an ongoing challenge. This paper uses the findings of a longitudinal study to examine the impact of Federal hearing-aid compatibility (HAC) regulations in resolving this problem. The study ran concurrently with the phase-in of Federal Communications Commission regulations requiring that mobile handset manufacturers and wireless service providers make available minimum numbers of cell phones with shielding to reduce electromagnetic interference when cell phones are positioned close to a hearing aid user's ear. These regulations also require package labeling and printed information to assist buyers in selecting a hearing-aid compatible phone. The survey presented here focused on changes in satisfaction with sound quality and ease of finding a hearing-aid compatible mobile handset. Data analysis suggests that the regulations have had limited success, and problems persist for consumers in locating a hearing aid compatible phone. The FCC has requested input on more stringent hearing-aid compatibility requirements; study findings suggest that these changes are not likely to remedy the problem.