Three persons with multiple disabilities accessing environmental stimuli and asking for social contact through microswitch and VOCA technology

• Published in: Journal of intellectual disability research Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 327 - 336
• Main Authors: Lancioni, G. E., O'Reilly, M. F., Singh, N. N., Sigafoos, J., Oliva, D., Severini, L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2008; Blackwell Publishing; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Assistive Technology; Attention - physiology; Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Biological and medical sciences; Caregivers; Carers; Child; Children; Children & youth; Communication; Communication Aids for Disabled - psychology; Developmental disabilities; Direct access; Disabled Children - psychology; Disabled Children - rehabilitation; Disabled Persons - psychology; Disabled Persons - rehabilitation; Female; Humans; Intellectual Disability - psychology; Intellectual Disability - rehabilitation; Interpersonal Relationship; Male; Medical sciences; Microswitches; Miscellaneous; Multiple Disabilities; Multiply disabled people; Physical Stimulation; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quadriplegia - psychology; Quadriplegia - rehabilitation; Roles; Self image; Social Behavior; social contact; Social image; Stimuli; Treatments; VOCA; Human; Multiple handicap; multiple disabilities; microswitches; Treatment efficiency; Male; social contact; Computer mediated communication; Preadolescent; Case study; Treatment; Social interaction; Adolescent; VOCA
• ISSN: 0964-2633; 1365-2788
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2007.01024.x

Background  Direct access to environmental stimuli and opportunity to ask for social contact/attention may be considered highly relevant objectives for persons with multiple disabilities. We assessed the possibility of enabling three of these persons (two children and one adolescent) to combine two microswitches (for accessing environmental stimuli) and a Voice Output Communication Aid (VOCA), which allowed them to ask for caregiver's attention. Methods  Initially, the participants were required to use each of the two microswitches individually and then together. Thereafter, they were taught to use the VOCA. Eventually, the VOCA was available together with the microswitches, and the participants could use any of the three. Results  The results, which support preliminary data on this topic, showed that all participants (1) were able to operate the two microswitches as well as the VOCA; and (2) used all three of them consistently when they were simultaneously available. Conclusions  Teaching persons with multiple disabilities to combine a VOCA with conventional microswitches may enrich their general input, emphasize their active social role and eventually enhance their social image.