This study, which was mandated in Title II of the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act, explores issues surrounding the financing of assistive technology and examines questions of accessibility, availability, affordability, and cost-effectiveness. The study offers a paradigm of disability focusing on how specific disabilities change the manner in which the activities of life are performed. It outlines the demographics of disability, defines the problem of access to assistive technology, and presents 12 major findings. Findings focus on: information awareness and coordination, inconsistent standard of need to justify funding across public programs, awareness and enforcement of existing rights and entitlements, health care funding of assistive technology, coordination of services and funding, monitoring the use of assistive technology, consumer choice and control, funding for support services, gaps in access for specific populations, availability of funding resources, impact and benefits of assistive technology, and funding solutions. In general, findings indicate that assistive technology makes education in regular school settings possible, reduces dependence on family members, saves money, enables individuals to sustain and improve their employment, and generally improves quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Sixteen recommendations for policy adaptation and legislative action are provided. An appendix examines recent public policy experience in the area of assistive technology. (Contains 26 references.) (PB)