Abstract
This chapter provides an overview of studies using microswitches for promoting adaptive/positive engagement of persons with profound and multiple disabilities. For practical (presentation) reasons, the studies are divided into several groups based on the responses targeted and the microswitches employed. A first group concerns studies that targeted a single typical response (e.g., head turning) using a commercial/conventional microswitch (e.g., a pressure device). A second group concerns studies that targeted a single nontypical (small) response (e.g., chin movements) using an experimental microswitch (e.g., an optic sensor). A third group concerns studies that targeted two or more responses (typical and nontypical) using combinations of commercial and experimental microswitches. A fourth group of studies, which is only briefly mentioned, involves combinations of responses employing microswitches and speech-generating devices (SGDs). The reason for the brief consideration of this last group is that the use of SGDs represents the topic of the next chapter of this book. The final part of this chapter analyzes the outcomes of the studies reviewed and their implications for daily programs and suggests questions for new research in the area.
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Lancioni, G.E., Sigafoos, J., O’Reilly, M.F., Singh, N.N. (2013). Use of Microswitches in Habilitation Programs. In: Assistive Technology. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4229-5_2
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