title: Assessing the effects of stimulation versus microswitch-based programmes on indices of happiness of students with multiple disabilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stimulation and microswitch-based programmes are considered main strategies to promote indices of happiness in students with multiple disabilities. However, only limited attempts have been made to assess the relative effects of the two programmes. This study conducted such an assessment with seven students with multiple disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first four phases of the study served to: (1) provide the students with a systematic exposure to each of the programmes; and (2) measure the programmes' effects on indices of happiness by comparing them with baseline levels. The fifth phase served to compare the programmes with each other.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first four phases of the study showed that the microswitch-based programme produced a significant increase in indices of happiness for all seven students, and the stimulation programme produced a significant increase for six students. During the fifth phase of the study (i.e. when the two programmes were alternated), the microswitch-based programme promoted significantly higher indices of happiness than the stimulation programme for four of the seven students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microswitch-based programmes might be deemed preferable to stimulation programmes because they can promote higher or comparable indices of happiness while promoting the acquisition of adaptive responses and self-determination.
authors.affiliation: University of Bari, Bari, Italy. g.lancioni@psico.uniba.it
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smaldone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tota
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martielli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stasolla
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pontiggia
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Groeneweg
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004581:Electronics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation*