Electronic mail: Service from afar for individuals with physical disabilities

Electronic mail is an interactive tool for the transmission of information between two individuals over the telephone system. This pilot study evaluated the use of electronic mail in providing clinical and technical assistance to individuals with physical disabilities from an augmentative communication service. Sixteen individuals with physical disabilities, ranging in age from 7 to 25 years and meeting specific study inclusion criteria, were randomly assigned to receive either the electronic mail service for a period of approximately 6 months (n = 7) or to a control group (n = 9). Satisfaction questionnaires were completed by both groups at predetermined time intervals, and both the number of independent contacts by subjects and number of contacts by caregivers were recorded. As expected, subjects in the electronic mail condition made an appreciably greater number of independent contacts than did their control group counterparts. The use of electronic mail as a service delivery option is discussed.