Designing a learning program to link old and disabled people to computers.

ANALYSIS of variance; CHI-squared test; COMPUTER training; STATISTICAL correlation; HEALTH status indicators; PEOPLE with disabilities; QUESTIONNAIRES; SATISFACTION; SCALE analysis (Psychology); SCHOOL environment; STUDENTS; STUDENT attitudes; ASSISTIVE technology; TEACHING methods; ACADEMIC accommodations; EDUCATIONAL outcomes; DATA analysis software; FUNCTIONAL assessment; DESCRIPTIVE statistics

A best practice guide for improving the computer skills of the elderly and disabled is presented. A set of user devices was made available to old and disabled people attending computer science courses and a Web site specifically designed for such users was presented. The analysis targeted the learners' perception of organizational and didactical aspects and the teachers' assessment of skill improvement. Participant satisfaction feedback showed that environment, aids and teaching methods are important in facilitating an individual's interaction with technology. Correlations showed that those better educated are more satisfied and more receptive. Appropriate teaching methods designed to promote computer literacy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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