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High-Tech Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices: Observing Children’s Need for Help and Interaction with Caregivers
Publication . Almeida, Ivone; Moreira, António; Ribeiro, Jaime
There are many children with disabilities who need specialised devices to communicate and to be understood, which poses an added challenge for their caregivers. This study aims to diagnose the training needs of informal caregivers concerning high-tech devices for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), to enhance the use of these devices in the home setting. The aim is to study children’s performance and their interaction with caregivers, to improve practices and contribute to reducing technology abandonment at home. Participant observation sessions were carried out in three home settings to describe the interaction between children and their caregivers, as well as to assess the former’s need for assistance in using the Grid3 software when combined with eye-gaze-controlled technology. The findings seem to demonstrate the importance of interactions between caregivers and children for carrying out tasks and improving performance. Therefore, it
can be inferred that positive reinforcement is important to foster children’s motivation to overcome difficulties in using such devices, along with corrective feedback. The data suggest the need to promote technology-mediated communicative interaction in all life contexts. It is also possible to infer that the lack of regular device use at home compromises skills development. These findings have contributed to the planning and implementation of parental training intervention regarding using assistive technology for augmentative and alternative communication.
Assistive technologies for children with cognitive and/or motor disabilities: a diagnosis of the training needs of informal caregivers
Publication . Almeida, I.; Ribeiro, Jaime; Moreira, A.
Assistive technologies promote communication, personal independence as well as the inclusion of children with cognitive or motor disabilities. Despite the human and material resources available, the implementation of assistive technologies in many family settings is still a struggling task. With the present study we seek to survey information and training needs of informal caregivers related to the use ofassistive technologies at home, so as to, in the near future, try to meet them. Therefore, we are conducting a focus group on that topic with therapists, special education teachers and an educational psychologist and analyzing the content of the discussion. The data gives a perspective on (i) how thorough informal caregivers' knowledge of what assistive technologies and their advantages are, (ii) difficulties reported by informal caregivers when using them with their children, (iii) reasons that may lead them to the abandonment of assistive technology devices, (iv) how they can develop their skills and use the technology more effectively and (v) how information on assistive technologies can be made available to them. Therefore, the full aim of this research is to contribute to reducing technology abandonment and to enhancing its use in the family setting by children with cognitive and/or motor limitations. Some preliminary results are put forward.
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Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
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PD/BD/143054/2018