Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T22:13:09.642Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Assisting Two Children with Multiple Disabilities and Minimal Motor Skills Control Environmental Stimuli with Thumb Poke Through a Trackball

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 January 2010

Ching-Hsiang Shih  and
Ching-Tien Shih
Ching-Hsiang Shih*
Affiliation:
National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan
Ching-Tien Shih
Affiliation:
Tung-Fang Institute of Technology, Taiwan
*
Reprint requests to Ching-Hsiang Shih, Department of Special Education, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 970, Taiwan (R.O.C.). E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background: Microswitches are the most commonly used input device for people with multiple disabilities to control environmental stimulation. However, little is known about adopting the commercial trackball with a revised trackball driver as a more feasible input device. Aims: To assess whether two children with profound multiple disabilities and minimal motor skills would be able to control environmental stimulation using thumb poke ability through cordless trackballs installed with a newly developed mouse driver (i.e. a new mouse driver replacing a standard mouse driver, turning a trackball mouse into a precise thumb poke detector). Method: An ABAB design and a 2-month post-intervention check were adopted to perform the study. Results: Data showed that the two children improved significantly in their target response (thumb poke) to activate the control system to produce environmental stimuli during the B (intervention) phases. This performance was maintained at the post-intervention check. Conclusions: The use of thumb poke in connection with a trackball allowed the children with multiple disabilities and minimal motor skills to increase their level of response and stimulation control.

Keywords

Thumb pokedetectortrackballmultiple disabilities
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 38 , Issue 2 , March 2010 , pp. 211 - 219
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ASUS (2009). Eee Box mini computer. Retrieved March 5, 2009, from http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=sVTIfejvD5rFDGnVGoogle Scholar
Crawford, M. R. and Schuster, J. W. (1993). Using microswitches to teach toy use. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 5, 349–368.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Durfee, J. L. and Billingsley, F. F. (1999). A comparison of two computer input devices for uppercase letter matching. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 53, 214–220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Felce, D. and Perry, J. (1995). Quality of life: its definition and measurement. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 16, 51–74.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Glickman, L., Deitz, J., Anson, D. and Stewart, K. (1996). The effect of switch control site on computer skills of infants and toddlers. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 50, 545.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gutowski, S. J. (1996). Response acquisition for music or beverages in adults with profound multiple handicaps. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 8, 221–231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kinsley, T. C. and Langone, J. (1995). Applications of technology for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities. Journal of Special Education Technology, 12, 312–324.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lancioni, G. E., O'Reilly, M. F. and Basili, G. (2001). Use of microswitches and speech output systems with people with severe/profound intellectual or multiple disabilities: a literature review. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 22, 21–40.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lancioni, G. E., O'Reilly, M. F., Oliva, D. and Coppa, M. M. (2001). A microswitch for vocalization responses to foster environmental control in children with multiple disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 45, 271–275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lancioni, G. E., O'Reilly, M. F., Singh, N. N., Oliva, D., Coppa, M. M. and Montironi, G. (2005). A new microswitch to enable a boy with minimal motor behavior to control environmental stimulation with eye blinks. Behavioral Interventions, 20, 147–153.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lancioni, G. E., Singh, , O'Reilly, N. N., Oliva, M. F., Scalini, D., Vigo, L., Groeneweg, C. M., , J. (2004). Microswitch clusters to support responding and appropriate posture of students with multiple disabilities: three case evaluations. Disability and Rehabilitation, 26, 501–505.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lancioni, G. E., Singh, N. N., O'Reilly, M. F., Sigafoos, J., Didden, R. and Oliva, D. (2009). Two boys with multiple disabilities increasing adaptive responding and curbing dystonic/spastic behavior via a microswitch-based program. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 378–385.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lancioni, G. E., Singh, N. N., O'Reilly, M. F., Sigafoos, J., Oliva, D. and Baccani, S. (2007). Enabling students with multiple disabilities to request and choose among environmental stimuli through microswitch and computer technology. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 28, 50–58.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lancioni, G. E., Singh, N. N., O'Reilly, M. F., Sigafoos, J., Oliva, D. and Cingolani, E. (2009). Students with multiple disabilities using technology-based programs to choose and access stimulus events alone or with caregiver participation. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 689–701.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lancioni, G. E., Singh, N. N., O'Reilly, M. F., Sigafoos, J., Oliva, D., Costantini, A., Gatto, S., Marinelli, V. and Putzolu, A. (2006). An optic micro-switch for an eyelid response to foster environmental control in children with minimal motor behaviour. Pediatric Rehabilitation, 9, 53–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leatherby, J. G., Gast, D. L., Wolery, M. and Collins, B. C. (1992). Assessment of reinforcer preference in multi-handicapped students. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 4, 15–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Missiuna, C. (1994). Motor skill acquisition in children with developmental coordination disorder. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 11, 214–235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richards, S. B., Taylor, R. L., Ramasamy, R. and Richards, R. Y. (1999). Single Subject Research: applications in educational and clinical settings: New York: Wadsworth.Google Scholar
Saunders, M. D., Questad, K. A., Kedziorski, T. L., Boase, B. C., Patterson, E. A. and Cullinan, T. B. (2001). Unprompted mechanical switch use in individuals with severe multiple disabilities: an evaluation of the effects of body position. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 13, 27–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schalock, R. L., Brown, I., Brown, R., Cummins, R. A., Felce, D., Matikka, L., Keith, K. D. and Parmenter, T. (2002). Conceptualization, measurement, and application of quality of life for persons with intellectual disabilities: report of an international panel of experts. Mental Retardation, 40, 457–470.2.0.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shih, C.-H., Chang, M.-L. and Shih, C.-T. (2009). Assisting people with multiple disabilities and minimal motor behavior to improve computer pointing efficiency through a mouse wheel. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 1378–1387.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shih, C.-H., Chung, C.-C., Chiang, M.-S. and Shih, C.-T. (2010). Assisting people with developmental disabilities to improve pointing efficiency with a Dual Cursor Automatic Pointing Assistive Program. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 31, 151–159.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shih, C.-H., Hsu, N.-Y. and Shih, C.-T. (2009). Assisting people with developmental disabilities to improve pointing efficiency with an Automatic Pointing Assistive Program. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 1212–1220.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shih, C.-H., Huang, H.-C., Liao, Y.-K., Shih, C.-T. and Chiang, M.-S. (2009). An Automatic Drag-and-Drop Assistive Program developed to assist people with developmental disabilities to improve drag-and-drop efficiency. Research in Developmental Disabilities, doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2009.10.004.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shih, C.-H. and Shih, C.-T. (2009a). Assisting people with multiple disabilities to use computers with multiple mice. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 746–754.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shih, C.-H. and Shih, C.-T. (2009b). Development of a computer input system for persons with disabilities using a commercial mouse and switches. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 4, 414–421.Google ScholarPubMed
Shih, C.-H. and Shih, C.-T. (2009c). Development of an integrated pointing device driver for the disabled. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, doi:10.1080/17483100903105599.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shih, C.-H. and Shih, C.-T. (2009d). A new movement detector to enable people with multiple disabilities to control environmental stimulation with hand swing through a commercial mouse. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 1196–1202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shih, C.-H., Shih, C.-T., Lin, K.-T. and Chiang, M.-S. (2009). Assisting people with multiple disabilities and minimal motor behavior to control environmental stimulation through a mouse wheel. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 1413–1419.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shimizu, H. and McDonough, C. S. (2006). Programmed instruction to teach pointing with a computer mouse in preschoolers with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 27, 175–189.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Siegel, S. and Castellan, N. J. (1988). Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences: New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
Strommen, E. F., Revelle, G. L., Medoff, L. M. and Razavi, S. (1996). Slow and steady wins the race? Three-year-old children and pointing device use. Behaviour and Information Technology, 15, 57–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sullivan, M. W., Laverick, D. H. and Lewis, M. (1995). Brief report: fostering environmental control in a young child with Rett syndrome: a case study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 25, 215–221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wehmeyer, M. and Schwartz, M. (1998). The relationship between self-determination and quality of life for adults with mental retardation. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 33, 3–12.Google Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.