Rehabilitation technology and the relationship with social policy in Europe and the United States

In 1990 the United States of America passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) recognising that disabled people needed legislation to protect their civil rights. It was later amended by the Civil Rights Act (1991). One of the stated objectives of the ADA is to regulate commerce. Mainstream manufacturers and service providers based in the USA now need to take account of the needs and requirements of disabled people. No similar legislation exists at the Community level. European telematic and specialist rehabilitation technology (RT) manufacturers and service providers face a competitive and strategic disadvantage. The authors consider the situation in Europe and the United States