An overview of technological resources used in rehabilitation research with people with severe/profound and multiple disabilities

Abstract

PURPOSE: This paper provides an outline of technological resources used in rehabilitation research with persons with severe/profound and multiple disabilities, and discusses the practicality of such resources. METHOD: Research articles published during the last 8 years (1993-2000) are considered. With regard to each of the technological resources used in the articles (i.e. microswitches, speech output devices, computer-aided instruction systems, audio recording systems, orientation systems, mobile robot, and SIBIS), accessibility, cost and implementation issues are examined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Some technological resources are easily accessible and affordable (i.e. microswitches, speech output devices, audio-recording systems and SIBIS). Other resources are still at the prototype level (i.e. computer-aided instruction systems, orientation systems and robot) and are much more complex and costly. In spite of this, the latter resources might still have an important role in daily contexts.