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To compare functional access to public buildings and facilities for persons with and without impairments.This is a cross-sectional pilot study with a survey design. A four-member participant team representing three impairment types: mobility impaired person using a wheelchair, mobility impaired person who was not a wheelchair user, visually impaired person, and a control with no known impairments, challenged a stratified random sample of 30 public buildings in Greater Boston. Using a task oriented data collection instrument, functional access was determined in terms of percentage of tasks performed, time, distance, barriers and facilitators.Overall, task performance was high for the team. However, the wheelchair user reported a lower task performance (81%) in comparison to the control (100%) and persons with mobility and visual impairments (97-98%). There was little variation in mean values for time and distance to complete tasks. More barriers were reported by the persons with mobility impairments, wheelchair user and non-wheelchair user, and; highest facilitators by the person with visual impairment and the wheelchair user. The control reported the lowest barriers and facilitators. The types of barriers and facilitators varied for the three impairments and the control structural for wheelchair and mobility impairments, wayfinding for visual impairment and interpersonal for control.Task performance by itself may not be a good predictor of functional access. Barriers and facilitators are critical to understanding issues related to functional access for persons with impairments. Knowledge of how these differ for different impairments can be useful for improving environmental access and rehabilitation.

A pilot study was undertaken regarding the effect of Internet access on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-reported impact for people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). This study is unique in providing free Internet access and looking at benefits for people with disabilities.HRQoL was measured using indicators of global health and social isolation at baseline and after 6 to 19 months of use via telephone interviews on a convenience sample of 23 adults with SCI. Additionally, monthly telephone surveys measured usage patterns, recreation, and self-reported impact. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted. Bivariate tests for differences in proportions and paired T-tests were conducted. Qualitatively, conceptual categories of impact were created using the Constant Comparative Method.Qualitatively, the predominant benefit was quality of life, mentioned by 61% of participants 46% of months surveyed, with quantitative trends towards improved emotional health. Ease of access to information, social connection, and quality of information were also frequently reported, with modest support from quantitative data.The study's persuasive qualitative results suggest the Internet has particular benefit to people with disabilities and that rehabilitation goals should include leisure. Further scientific research is strongly warranted.