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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*
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]

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.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2010

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