Adapting a Grid into a Microswitch to Suit Simple Hand Movements of a Child with Profound Multiple Disabilities

Abstract

We adapted a grid into a microswitch for the hand movements of a girl with profound multiple disabilities who lay on her back. The grid, suspended above the girl's face, was equipped with two mercury devices, i.e., small sealed ampoules containing a mercury drop and ending with conductive leads. A lateral or forward movement of the grid would make the mercury drop of at least one device slide to the conductive leads and activate the device. During the intervention, activations of the devices, i.e., microswitch activations, produced the occurrence of favorite stimuli. Analysis showed that the girl increased the frequency of hand movements and microswitch activations during the intervention phases compared to the baseline phases (when the favorite stimuli were not available). The increase was retained at a 1-mo. postintervention check.

Computer and microswitch-based programs to improve academic activities by six children with cerebral palsy

“…Moreover, it may be viewed as highly useful in mastering challenging tasks (Catania, 2007;Lancioni et al, 2004Lancioni et al, , 2007Matson & Goldin, 2014;Majnemer, Shevell, Law, Poulin, & Rosenbaum, 2010;Reichle, 2011;Stasolla et al, 2014b. Second, the opportunity of a computer-based program used in this study may be viewed as a great educational and rehabilitative resource, crucial for varying systematically the stimulation and choice strategies, avoiding saturation.…”

Combined extended reality and reinforcement learning to promote healthcare and reduce social anxiety in fragile X syndrome: a new assessment tool and a rehabilitative strategy

“…For example, social validation procedures involving external experts such as neurologists, psychologists, parents of children with developmental disabilities, physiotherapists, and/or speech/occupational therapists are warranted. External validity, including systematic comparisons with idiopathic disabilities or other developmental disabilities, should be viewed as mandatory (Lancioni et al, 2004(Lancioni et al, , 2007(Lancioni et al, , 2008a(Lancioni et al, , 2009aStasolla et al, 2014a).…”