The paper focuses on the development of relatively low-cost microcomputers, which provide a potentially powerful tool for the rehabilitation field. The paper discusses such areas of application as sensory enhancement/translation, manipulator controls, information amplification, special control interfaces to other devices, recreation and development aids, educational aids, communication aids, cognitive and language processing assistance, information resource/management, security/monitoring systems, and so on. Three approaches to providing aids to the handicapped are discussed: commercially available aids, custom-built aids, and modified standard systems. Barriers to more extensive use of microcomputers in rehabilitation are cited, and approaches to the problems of multilevel and multitasking processing are examined. (JDD)