Affiliations: [a] University of Bari, Italy | [b] Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, GA, USA | [c] University of Texas at Austin, TX, USA | [d] Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand | [e] Lega F. D’Oro Research Center, Osimo, Italy
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: G.E. Lancioni, Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Corso Italia 23, 70121 Bari, Italy. Tel.: +39 080 5717864; E-mail: [email protected];[email protected].
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Technology-aided programs have typically been used to support either leisure or functional activity engagement. Yet, supporting both types of engagement would be highly relevant within applied contexts. OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at assessing two versions of a technology-aided program designed to support combinations of leisure and functional activity engagement with seven participants with intellectual disability and sensory or sensory-motor impairment. METHODS: The first version was assessed with four participants and included a computer system presenting leisure categories (e.g., music and family slides), a microswitch whereby the participants could choose among those categories and related stimuli, and a tablet device with pictorial activity instructions. The second version was assessed with three participants, who possessed only basic choice and activity skills, and presented the leisure stimuli individually and did not include the tablet. RESULTS: Participants learned to use the respective program versions and their independent leisure and activity engagement times increased from zero during baseline to means of 9-13 min and 8-15 min per session, respectively, with the program. Mean session lengths varied between 24 and 31 min. CONCLUSIONS: The program versions seem suited to support combinations of leisure and functional activity engagement in persons with multiple disabilities.
