A Wheelchair User With Visual and Intellectual Disabilities Managing Simple Orientation Technology for Indoor Travel
By Lancioni, Giulio E.; O'Reilly, Mark F.; Singh, Nirbhay N.; Sigafoos, Jeff; Campodonico, Francesca; Oliva, Doretta; Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, Vol. 103, No. 5, pp. 308-312Publication Date: May 2009
Study assessed the effectiveness of an electronic orientation tool for a wheelchair user with visual and intellectual disabilities. The orientation system included sound sources to be placed at various destinations and an electronic control device with keys to activate cues given by the sound sources at chosen destinations. The system was tested with a 27-year-old female wheelchair user with minimal residual vision and a moderate intellectual disability. An ABAB design was used for the study, in which A represented baseline, and B intervention phases. For each trial of the intervention phase, the participant chose 5 out of 8 available destinations, each with a corresponding key located on the control device, marked with an identifying symbol, and encircled with light-emitting diodes. When a key was pressed, the sound source at the corresponding destination started emitting a cue every 15 seconds; the participant turned off the sound when the destination was reached. For the baseline trials, the orientation system was turned off and the participant received verbal destination choices and verbal cueing as needed. Results showed the mean percentage of correct trips taken during the baseline phases to be 5 and 20, respectively, while the mean percentage of correct trips during initial intervention phase was 75, increased to 90 at the second intervention phase. Concurrent trials using the same ABAB design in a different location also resulted in a high percentage of correct trips during the intervention phases, indicating the possibility of generalizing the use of the technology across settings.
Published by: AFB Press (Website:http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=46)
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (Web Site: http://www.afb.org )
Link to text: http://www.afb.org/store/product.asp?sku=jvib030509
