Assistive technology device means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially or off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain,or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. Disability means a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Applied research is research in which the investigator is primarily interested in developing new knowledge, information or understanding which can be applied to a predetermined rehabilitation problem or need.
Applied research builds on selected findings from basic research.
The term includes the State agency for the blind, if designated as the State agency with respect to that part of the plan relating to the vocational rehabilitation of blind individuals.