title: People with multiple disabilities learn to engage in occupation and work activities with the support of technology-aided programs.
abstract: These two studies were aimed at assessing technology-aided programs to help persons with multiple disabilities engage in basic occupation or work activities. Specifically, Study I focused on teaching two participants (an adolescent and an adult) with low vision or total blindness, severe/profound intellectual disabilities, and minimal object interaction to engage in constructive object-manipulation responses. The technology monitored their responses and followed them with brief stimulation periods automatically. Study II focused on teaching three adults with deafness, severe visual impairment, and profound intellectual disabilities to perform a complex activity, that is, to assemble a five-component water pipe. The technology regulated (a) light cues to guide the participants through the workstations containing single pipe components and the carton for completed pipes and (b) stimulation events. The results of both studies were positive. The participants of Study I showed consistent and independent engagement in object-manipulation responses. The participants of Study II showed consistent and independent pipe assembling performance. General implications of the two programs and the related technology packages for intervention with persons with multiple disabilities are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Bari, Italy. Electronic address: g.lancioni@psico.uniba.it.
authors.forename: Giulio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, USA.
authors.forename: Nirbhay N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Austin, USA.
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigafoos
authors.affiliation: Lega F. D'Oro Research Center, Osimo and Lesmo, Italy.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alberti
authors.affiliation: Lega F. D'Oro Research Center, Osimo and Lesmo, Italy.
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perilli
authors.affiliation: Lega F. D'Oro Research Center, Osimo and Lesmo, Italy.
authors.forename: Dominga
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laporta
authors.affiliation: Lega F. D'Oro Research Center, Osimo and Lesmo, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Campodonico
authors.affiliation: Lega F. D'Oro Research Center, Osimo and Lesmo, Italy.
authors.forename: Doretta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.affiliation: University of Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jop
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Groeneweg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001766:Blindness / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003638:Deafness / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014937:Work
keywords: Multiple disabilities; Occupation; Technology-based programs; Work activities