title: Effects of a voice output communication aid on interactions between support personnel and an individual with multiple disabilities.
abstract: We evaluated a means of increasing staff members' interactions with an individual with multiple disabilities through use of a voice output communication aid (VOCA). When activated, the VOCA allowed the individual to communicate through synthesized speech. Results indicated that staff members interacted with the individual more frequently when she had access to the VOCA, suggesting that VOCAs may represent an alternative to more traditional staff management programs for increasing interactions.
authors.affiliation: George Mason University.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Schepis
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment