In this study, the use of microswitches was adapted to foster response awareness and word association for two persons with multiple disabilities. A microswitch activation/ response produced a spoken word indicating the consequences available for it. Repeating that response after the word led to the occurrence of the consequences. Repeating the specific response, rather than emitting a different one, was considered a sign of response awareness. Both persons learned to repeat the appropriate responses after the words, showing signs of response awareness. They also showed moderate to high levels of association of the words presented as probes (outside of the above sequence) with the related responses. Implications of the data and the use of this approach in the persons' daily contexts are discussed.
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