Predicting Special Educators’ Use of Assistive Technology in Virtual & Hybrid Learning Environments

This predictive correlational study investigated to what extent, if at all, the constructs of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) predicted special educators’ use of assistive technology (AT) in virtual and hybrid settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey was distributed to educators (n = 104) across the United States, and a multiple regression was used to determine whether, if at all, the constructs of the UTAUT significantly predicted their use of AT to support online and hybrid learning. The results cohere with and extend previous research regarding teachers’ acceptance and use of technology and demonstrated that special educators’ positive perceptions of social influence and students’ effort expectancy were predictive of their use of AT in online and hybrid settings.