Everyday Technology to Help People with Intellectual and Other Disabilities Access Stimulation via Functional Motor Responses and Improved Body Posture

Purpose: This study assessed everyday technology to help eight participants with intellectual and sensory-motor disabilities access stimulation via functional arm/hand responses and improved body posture. Methods: An ABABB1BB1 design was used for each participant, with A representing baseline phases, B intervention phases in which arm/hand responses led to a 12-s stimulation, and B1 intervention phases in which the stimulation for arm/hand responses was conditional on an improved/correct torso and head posture. The technology involved a Samsung Galaxy A10 smartphone fitted with Google Assistant and MacroDroid, a mini voice-recording device, and a portable mini voice amplifier. Results: All participants had a large increase in arm/hand responses from the baseline periods to the B and B1 phases. They also had a large increase in correct posture from the B phases to the B1 phases. Conclusion: This technology-aided approach may be a helpful resource for people similar to the participants of this study.