This study assessed the response maintenance of 4 children with multiple disabilities who had previously been exposed to intervention programs that used multiple microswitches. Maintenance checks were carried out in the children's homes or educational settings over periods of 6 to 8 months from the end of the original programs. Data showed that all 4 children retained high levels of responding during the maintenance checks. Such levels were comparable with those achieved during the last section of the intervention programs. Implications of the data for the use of microswitches in daily contexts of children with multiple disabilities are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Alderson, P. (2001). Down's syndrome: Cost, quality and value of life . Social Science and Medicine, 53, 627-638.
2.
Behrmann, M.M., Jones, J.K., & Wilds, M.L. (1989). Technology intervention for very young children with disabilities. Infants and Young Children, 1(4), 66-77.
3.
Crawford, M.R., & Schuster, J.W. (1993). Using microswitches to teach toy use. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities , 5, 349-368.
4.
Cummins, R.A. (2001). Living with support in the community: Predictors of satisfaction with life. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 7, 99-104.
5.
Dewson, M.R.J., & Whiteley, J.H. (1987). Sensory reinforcement of head turning with nonambulatory, profoundly mentally retarded persons. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 8, 413-426.
6.
Felce, D., & Perry, J. (1995). Quality of life: Its definition and measurement . Research in Developmental Disabilities, 16, 51-74.
7.
Glickman, L., Deitz, J., Anson, D., & Stewart, K. (1996). The effect of switch control site on computer skills of infants and toddlers. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 50, 545-553.
8.
Green, C.W., & Reid, D.H. (1999a). A behavioral approach to identifying sources of happiness and unhappiness among individuals with profound multiple disabilities . Behavior Modification, 23, 280-293.
9.
Green, C.W., & Reid, D.H. (1999b). Reducing indices of unhappiness among individuals with profound multiple disabilities during therapeutic exercise routines. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 137-147.
10.
Gutowski, S.J. (1996). Response acquisition for music or beverages in adults with profound multiple handicaps. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 8, 221-231.
11.
Horn, E.M., Warren, S.F., & Jones, H.A. (1995). An experimental analysis of a neurobehavioral motor intervention. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology , 37, 697-714.
12.
Kinsley, T.C., & Langone, J. (1995). Applications of technology for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities. Journal of Special Education Technology, 12, 312-324.
13.
Ko, M.L.B., McConachie, H., & Jolleff, N. (1998). Outcome of recommendations for augmentative communication in children. Child: Care, Health and Development, 24, 195-205.
14.
Lancioni, G.E., O'Reilly, M.F., & Basili, G. (2001). Use of microswitches and speech output systems with people with severe/profound intellectual or multiple disabilities: A literature review. Research in Developmental Disabilities , 22, 21-40.
15.
Lancioni, G.E., O'Reilly, M.F., Oliva, D., & Coppa, M.M. (2001a). A microswitch for vocalization responses to foster environmental control in children with multiple disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 45, 271-275.
16.
Lancioni, G.E., O'Reilly, M.F., Oliva, D., & Coppa, M.M. (2001b). Using multiple microswitches to promote different responses in children with multiple disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 22, 309-318.
17.
Lancioni, G.E., O'Reilly, M.F., Oliva, D., Singh, N.N., & Coppa, M.M. (in press). Multiple microswitches for multiple responses with children with profound disabilities. Scandinavian Journal of Behaviour Therapy.
18.
Langley, M.B. (1990). A developmental approach to the use of toys for facilitation of environmental control. Physical andOccupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 10(2), 69-91.
19.
Leatherby, J.G., Gast, D.L., Wolery, M., & Collins, B.C. (1992). Assessment of reinforcer preference in multi-handicapped students. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities , 4, 15-36.
20.
McClure, J.T., Moss, R.A., McPeters, J.W., & Kirkpatrick, M.A. (1986). Reduction of hand-mouthing by a boy with profound mental retardation. Mental Retardation , 24, 219-222.
21.
Miltenberger, R. (1997). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures . New York: Brooks/Cole.
22.
Realon, R.E., Favell, J.E., & Dayvault, K.A. (1988). Evaluating the use of adapted leisure materials on the engagement of persons who are profoundly, multiply handicapped. Education and Training in Mental Retardation , 23, 228-237.
23.
Realon, R.E., Favell, J.E., & Lowerre, A. (1990). The effects of making choices on engagement levels with persons who are profoundly multiply handicapped. Education and Training in Mental Retardation, 25, 299-305.
24.
Saunders, M.D., Questad, K.A., Kedziorski, T.L., Boase, B.C., Patterson, E.A., & Cullinan, T.B. (2001). Unprompted mechanical switch use in individuals with severe multiple disabilities: An evaluation of the effects of body position. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 13, 27-39.
25.
Scott, T.R., Vare, V.A., Flynn, R.Y., Quirk, R.E., Heasman, J.M., Gschwind, C.R., et al. (2000). The use of bilateral stimulated hand grasp in the bimanual activities of persons with tetraplegia. IEEE Transactions on Rehabilitation Engineering, 8, 425-429.
26.
Sullivan, M.W., Laverick, D.H., & Lewis, M. (1995). Fostering environmental control in a young child with Rett syndrome: A case study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 25, 215-221.
27.
Sullivan, M.W., & Lewis, M. (1993). Contingency, means-end skills, and the use of technology in infant intervention. Infants and Young Children , 5(4), 58-77.
28.
Thibadeau, S., Blew, P., Reedy, P., & Luiselli, J.K. (1999). Access to white bread as an intervention for chronic ruminative vomiting. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 30, 137-144.
29.
Wacker, D.P., Wiggins, B., Fowler, M., & Berg, W.K. (1988). Training students with profound or multiple handicaps to make requests via microswitches. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 21, 331-343.
