Affiliation: | (1) Department of Psychology, University of Bari, Via Quintino Sella 268, 70100 Bari, Italy;(2) University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA;(3) ONE Research Institute, Chesterfield, Virginia, USA;(4) University of Texas, Austin, Texas, USA;(5) Lega F. DOro Research Center, Osimo, Italy;(6) University of Bari, Bari, Italy |
Abstract: | Technological aids such as microswitches may be critical to foster learning and development in children with multiple disabilities. In study I, a child with minimal motor behavior was provided with a microswitch for chin movements to assess whether he could learn to use these movements to activate environmental stimuli. In study II, a child with dystonic (difficult-to-control) behavior was provided with microswitches for two motor responses and two vocal utterances. We wanted to assess whether he could use both types of responses effectively (varying within each pair, consistent with choice performance). The results were highly encouraging with both children. In study I, there was a significant increase in the childs responding, suggesting learning and contingency awareness. In study II, there was a significant increase in responding as well as response variation that suggested choice behavior. The importance of microswitch devices in promoting new learning/developmental objectives and improving quality of life is discussed. |