Interactive Technology to Help People with Multiple Disabilities Practice Relevant Physical Responses within an Occupational Task

Abstract

This study adapted a new interactive technology system to help six participants with intellectual disability and visual and motor impairments to exercise relevant physical responses as part of an occupational task. The task was to place objects into different containers from a sitting position. The responses, which changed across sessions, consisted of the participants (a) stretching the left arm and shoulder to place objects in a container located to their left, (b) stretching the right arm and shoulder to place objects in a container located to their right, or (c) stretching one or both arms and shoulders forward and upward to place objects in a container located high up in front of them. The technology, which entailed a portable computer, a webcam, and a mini speaker, monitored the participants’ responses, gave brief periods of preferred stimulation contingent on the responses, provided verbal encouragements/prompts in case of no response, and assisted in data recording. The study was carried out according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline across participants design and included baseline and intervention sessions of 10 min. During the baseline (when the technology system only served to monitor and record the responses), the participants’ mean frequency of responses varied between near zero and about 10 per session. During the intervention (when the technology system was fully operational), the participant’s mean response frequency increased to between about 29 and 46 per session. In light of the results, one might consider the technology system a useful support tool to help people with multiple disabilities engage in relevant physical responses.