Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
Date Submitted: Sep 9, 2021
Date Accepted: Oct 3, 2021
Supporting Occupational Engagement and Mobility of People with Intellectual and Visual Disabilities through Technology-aided Spatial Cues, Instructions, and Preferred Stimulation
ABSTRACT
Background:
Persons with severe/profound intellectual disability and visual impairment tend to be passive and sedentary and technology-aided intervention may be required to improve their condition without excessive demands on staff time.
Objective:
This study was aimed at (a) extending the assessment of technology-aided intervention to support functional occupational engagement and mobility in seven people with intellectual disability and visual impairment, and (b) using a technology system simpler and less expensive than those previously used.
Methods:
The technology system involved a Samsung Galaxy A10, four Philips Hue indoor motion sensors, and four mini speakers. Within each session, the participants were to collect 18 objects (i.e., one at a time) from three different areas/stations located within a large room, bringing each of the objects to a central desk, and putting away each of those objects there. For each object, the participants received: (a) verbal/spatial cues guiding them to the area where the object was to be collected, (b) a verbal instruction/request to take an object, (c) verbal/spatial cues guiding them to the central desk, (d) a verbal instruction to put away the object collected, and (e) praise and preferred stimulation.
Results:
During baseline, the frequency of responses completed correctly (objects collected and put away independently) was (near) zero. During the intervention phase (i.e., with the support of the technology setup), the frequency increased for all participants reaching means of virtually 18 (out of 18 response opportunities) for six participants and about 13 for the remaining participant. The mean session duration ranged between about 12 and 30 min.
Conclusions:
A program, such as that used in this study, can be useful to promote occupational engagement and mobility in persons with intellectual disability and visual impairment. Clinical Trial: Not Applicable
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