Recent Technology-Aided Programs to Support Adaptive Responses, Functional Activities, and Leisure and Communication in People With Significant Disabilities

Frontiers in Neurology

Giulio E. Lancioni¹  Mark F. O'Reilly²  Marta Olivetti Belardinelli³  Gloria Alberti⁴  Nirbhay N. Singh⁵  Jeff Sigafoos⁶ 

[1] Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Bari, Italy;Department of Special Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States;Interuniversity Center for Research on Cognitive Processing in Natural and Artificial Systems (ECONA), Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy;Lega F. Doro Research Center, Osimo, Italy;Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, United States;School of Education, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand;

关键词: technology-aided programs;    support tools;    disabilities;    cognition;    adaptive responses;    functional tasks;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fneur.2019.00643

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This paper presents an overview of recent technology-aided programs (i. e., technology-aided support tools) designed to help people with significant disabilities (a) engage in adaptive responses, functional activities, and leisure and communication, and thus (b) interact with their physical and social environment and improve their performance/achievement. In order to illustrate the support tools, the paper provides an overview of recent studies aimed at developing and assessing those tools. The paper also examines the tools' accessibility and usability, and comments on possible ways of modifying and advancing them to improve their impact. The tools taken into consideration concern, among others, (a) microswitches linked to computer systems, and aimed at promoting (i.e., through positive stimulation) minimal responses or functional body movements in individuals with intellectual disabilities and motor impairments; (b) computer systems, tablets, or smartphones aimed at supporting functional activity engagement of individuals with intellectual disabilities or Alzheimer's disease; and (c) microswitches with computer-aided systems, elaborate communication devices, and specifically arranged smartphones or tablets, directed at promoting leisure, communication, or both.

【 授权许可】

Unknown