Assistive Technology Programs to Support Persons with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Abstract

Assistive technology is increasingly popular within different education, rehabilitation, and care contexts, and it includes a variety of technology solutions (

Promoting Choice Using Switches in People With Severe Disabilities: A Case Report

“…The results support those of previous studies on AT-based programs to promote functional and choice behavior (Lancioni, 2018; Lancioni et al, 2014; Stasolla et al, 2015; Stasolla et al, 2019b). It is important to underline how the acquisition of pressure behavior, obtained in Phase 1, constitutes an extremely significant evolution if considered in the ecological-existential perspective of an adult subject with high levels of support needs.…”

“…These aids allow opportunities to actively explore, interact, and control some specific aspects of the environmental context (Lancioni et al, 2007;Lancioni et al, 2017), leading to a significant decrease in the liability as well as the promotion of positive outcomes in different QoL domains. The development of skills for autonomous control of significant activities is a prerequisite for the achievement of important objectives: independent exercise, engagement, and recreational activities (without help and in the absence of assistants), in addition to improving the social vision of these people (Lancioni, 2018;Lancioni et al, 2005a). These programs can be shaped according to the individual characteristics of the participants, and they can be used in different contexts of daily life (Lancioni et al, 2011(Lancioni et al, , 2018.…”

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

“…First, it may be the only way to enable the individual to reach those events and control their occurrence independently. Second, the occurrence of those events can motivate the individual to repeat the emission of the responses/movements over time and thus ensure consistent contact with the environment, arousal and engagement, and possibly relevant physical exercise (6, 40, 42–44).…”

“…An increasingly popular approach to help these people concerns the use of technology-aided support tools providing step instructions and other types of assistance (56, 57). These tools can be defined as forms of cognitive prostheses bridging the gap between the people's skill level and the task demands (6, 58).…”

“…Technology-aided programs are increasingly recognized as essential means for supporting people with significant disabilities (e.g., congenital intellectual, motor, or sensory impairments, and possible combinations of them, and neurodegenerative or post-traumatic disorders) within their daily contexts (1–5). Technology-aided programs are designed to build functional links between user, technology and environment, and thus ensure that a satisfactory (goal-directed) interaction with the environment is possible also for individuals with extensive levels of disabilities (6). Such interaction is considered critical to promote the individual's general achievement, personal satisfaction (quality of life), social image, and cognition (2, 7–10).…”