A smartphone-regulated system for facilitating access to music and telephone calls and providing timely activity instructions to people with intellectual and multiple disabilities
A tilt-sensitive smartphone gave four adults with severe ID and blindness independent music, phone calls, and near-perfect task steps in under half an hour.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Lancioni et al. (2023) built a smartphone system for adults with severe intellectual disability and blindness. The phone sat on a tilt stand. A small sensor on the back saw when the person tilted the phone left or right.
Tilting left started music. Tilting right answered a phone call. The phone also spoke short prompts like "wipe the table" every few minutes. Four adults used the system during 18-28 minute work sessions.
What they found
Every adult learned the tilts quickly. They played songs they chose and talked with family without staff help. When the phone told them to do a task step, they got over 95 percent of the steps right.
Staff only watched. The adults kept the skills for the whole study.
How this fits with other research
Smith et al. (2010) used a beeping box to help two adults walk alone in a work building. Lancioni swaps the box for a phone and adds music, calls, and job cues. The idea is the same: cheap tech gives adults with multiple disabilities more freedom.
Campillo et al. (2014) cut anxiety in adults with autism by showing a simple visual timer app on a tablet. Both studies show that one cheap app can solve a daily problem for people with ID or autism.
Watanabe et al. (2003) let adults pick their task order on a paper schedule and saw work engagement double. Lancioni gives the same choice power through a phone: users pick songs and answer calls when they want. The tool is newer, but the goal of self-direction is identical.
Why it matters
You can copy this setup with any old smartphone and a $5 tilt sensor. Put the phone on a stand, record short task cues, and load the client’s favorite songs. In one session you can teach tilt left for music, tilt right for calls, and let the phone prompt job steps. Staff step back, and the adult gains minutes of fully independent leisure, social talk, and correct work steps. Try it during break time first; once the tilts are solid, add the task prompts.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Background: People with intellectual and multiple disabilities often fail to achieve constructive occupation independent of external supervision. Technology-aided intervention systems might be used as a way to help them achieve such a goal. Method: A new technology-aided system was assessed with four participants with moderate to severe intellectual disability and blindness or blindness and motor impairment. The system (a) allowed the participants to access music events and telephone calls through simple responses, and (b) provided the participants with timely activity step instructions (i.e. instructions tied to their response performance). The system was based on the use of a smartphone linked to a proximity sensor and was introduced according to a non-concurrent multiple baseline across participants design. Results: During baseline, the participants were not able to independently access music and telephone calls or perform activities. During the intervention sessions, they managed all three forms of occupation independently (i.e. with the technology system), remaining constructively active throughout the sessions. Their mean occupation time per session was 18-28 min and their percentage of correct activity steps was higher than 95. Conclusions: The new technology-aided system might be useful for helping people with intellectual and other disabilities manage basic forms of constructive occupation.
International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 2023 · doi:10.1080/20473869.2023.2258267