Persons with multiple disabilities exercise adaptive response schemes with the help of technology-based programs: Three single-case studies

The present three single-case studies assessed the effectiveness of technology-based programs to help three persons with multiple disabilities exercise adaptive response schemes independently. The response schemes included (a) left and right head movements for a man who kept his head increasingly static on his wheelchair's headrest (Study I), (b) left- and right-arm movements for a woman who tended to hold both arms/hands tight against her body (Study II), and (c) touching object cues on a computer screen for a girl who rarely used her residual vision for orienting/guiding her hand responses. The technology involved microswitches/sensors to detect the response schemes and a computer/control system to record their occurrences and activate preferred stimuli contingent on them. Results showed large increases in the response schemes targeted for each of the three participants during the intervention phases of the studies. The importance of using technology-based programs as tools for enabling persons with profound and multiple disabilities to practice relevant responses independently was discussed.

► Three studies assessed the possibility of helping three participants with multiple disabilities exercise adaptive response schemes independently.
► The response schemes involved head movements, arm movements, and touching object cues on a computer screen.
► Technology-based programs were used to record the participants’ responses and ensure stimulation contingent on those responses.
► All three participants showed large increases in the frequencies of the responses targeted within the programs.