title: EXTENDING THE ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGY-AIDED PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT LEISURE AND COMMUNICATION IN PEOPLE WITH ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY AND EXTENSIVE MULTIPLE DISABILITIES.
abstract: Intervention programs for people with acquired brain injury and extensive motor and communication impairment need to be diversified according to their characteristics and environment. These two studies assessed two technology-aided programs for supporting leisure (i.e., access to songs and videos) and communication (i.e., expressing needs and feelings and making requests) in six of those people. The three people participating in Study 1 did not possess speech but were able to understand spoken and written sentences. Their program presented leisure and communication options through written phrases appearing on the computer screen. The three people participating in Study 2 did not possess any speech and were unable to understand spoken or written language. Their program presented leisure and communication options through pictorial images. All participants relied on a simple microswitch response to enter the options and activate songs, videos, and communication messages. The data showed that the participants of both studies learned to use the program available to them and to engage in leisure and communication independently. The importance of using programs adapted to the participants and their environment was discussed.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulio E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lancioni
authors.affiliation: 2 Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, USA.
authors.forename: Nirbhay N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: 3 University of Texas at Austin, USA.
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: O'reilly
authors.affiliation: 4 Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jeff
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sigafoos
authors.affiliation: 5 S. Raffaele Rehabilitation and Care Centers, Ceglie and Alberobello, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buonocunto
authors.affiliation: 5 S. Raffaele Rehabilitation and Care Centers, Ceglie and Alberobello, Italy.
authors.forename: Fiora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: D'amico
authors.affiliation: 5 S. Raffaele Rehabilitation and Care Centers, Ceglie and Alberobello, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quaranta
authors.affiliation: 5 S. Raffaele Rehabilitation and Care Centers, Ceglie and Alberobello, Italy.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: 5 S. Raffaele Rehabilitation and Care Centers, Ceglie and Alberobello, Italy.
authors.forename: Crocifissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lanzilotti
authors.affiliation: 6 Frangi-Segesta Rehabilitation Center, Acquaviva delle Fonti, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colonna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001037:Aphasia / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D020208:Brain Injury, Chronic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D012984:Software; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical