title: A microswitch-based program for promoting initial ambulation responses: An evaluation with two girls with multiple disabilities.
abstract: We assessed the use of a microswitch-based program for promoting ambulation responses by two children with multiple disabilities. The goals of the study were to: (a) evaluate the importance of the contingency between the target behavior (forward step) and the programmed consequence (preferred stimuli), (b) measure effects of the intervention on indices of happiness, and (c) assess the social validation of the procedure using 20 physiotherapists as external raters. The intervention involved the automatic delivery of preferred stimuli contingent on forward steps. Results showed that both participants improved their performance (forward steps and indices of happiness) during contingent reinforcement phases compared to baseline and noncontingent reinforcement phases. Moreover, physiotherapists rated the intervention as socially valid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, University of Bari, Bari (Italy).
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stasolla
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, Bari (Italy).
authors.forename: Alessandro O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Caffò
authors.affiliation: Lega del Filo d'Oro Research Center, Molfetta (Italy).
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perilli
authors.affiliation: Lega del Filo d'Oro Research Center, Termini Imerese (Italy).
authors.forename: Adele
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boccasini
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, Bari (Italy).
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stella
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, Bari (Italy).
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Damiani
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, Bari (Italy).
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.affiliation: Department of Educational Sciences, Psychology, Communication, University of Bari, Bari (Italy).
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Damato
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000523:psychology; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D063586:Social Validity, Research; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: ambulation responses; contingency; indices of happiness; microswitches; multiple disabilities; quality of life; social validation