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Powered Mobility and Preschoolers With Complex Developmental Delays

By Deitz, Jean; Swinth, Yvonne; White, Owen; American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Vol. 56, No. 1, pp. 86-96
Publication Date: January/February 2002

Study explores the effects of a Boss battery-operated ride-on car on the participation behaviors of young children with complex developmental delays. The Boss riding toy’s designers utilized foam inserts for increased comfort and lateral support, and a choice of two joysticks: (1) the Slik Stik joystick, and (2) the Proportional Joystick. A single-participant withdrawal design was used to study the effects of powered mobility on child-initiated movement occurrences, initiation of contact with others, and affect. The participants were two young children with complex developmental delays, including spastic quadriplegia. The intervention consisted of having the children use the riding toy in their school settings during gym class and outdoor recess. The authors found that the toy did increase the participants’ self-initiated movement occurrences, and did appear to have some effect on the initiation of contact with adults. The authors concluded that for some young children with severe motor impairments and developmental delay, a powered mobility device could increase self-initiated movement occurrences during free play.

Assistive Products Discussed: BOSS
PROPORTIONAL JOYSTICK
Published by: American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA)   (Website:http://www.aota.org)

This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J43569
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