Low cost assistive technology to support educational activities for adolescents with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Introduction: The concept of assistive technology covers several areas of action; one of them is communication with the elaboration of accessible solutions to overcome daily difficulties. It contributes to the resumption of functional abilities, expanding and facilitating inclusion and independent living.

Objective: To analyze the usability of a low cost prototype device to support educational activities of adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Methods: A descriptive observational study. The evaluation of a prototype device was made through a validated questionnaire, Quest Version 2.0, on the level of the user’s satisfaction with an assistive technology, composed of 12 evaluation items. The questionnaire was filled out by the educator based on the observation of four wheelchair-bound participants diagnosed with cerebral palsy according to the international classification of diseases and health-related problems, ICD-10, who attend a coexistence and teaching institution in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Results: The device developed was considered an assistive technology, which provided an experience with a positive level of satisfaction for the participants.

Conclusion: The tested prototype contributes to communication and interaction allowing adolescents with cerebral palsy to participate in educational activities.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The device assists the individual in the educational activities and can positively influence their development, observe the individual number 5, who has an important limitation in coordination and fine movements, placing the role of the task in the vertical position offers a new perspective to perform the task, this stimulates him to try to perform the work, so the challenge was adjusted to the demands of each individual which can contribute to its neuromotor development, the amplitude of the distal movements and the manual ability, since it must look for alternatives to complete the task requested.

Keywords:

• Self-help devices
• augmentative and alternative communication
• assistive technologies
• human engineering

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the involved institutions, the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), ABC Medical School (FMABC), the institution APAE, which allowed this study to be carried out with excellence with all the collaboration of the multidisciplinary team that compose it and all who contributed to the realization of this research, for the opportunity of this contribution and to the professors, Professor Dr. Claudio Leone, Professor Dr. Andrés Ricardo Pérez Riera, Professor Dr. Vagner Rogério dos Santos for the important orientations and to the members of the Laboratory of Study Design and Scientific Writing of the ABC Medical School. Last but not the least I would especially like to thank the board of directors, the faculty and students, the professionals of the multidisciplinary associação de pais e amigos dos excepcionais (APAE), for allowing my coexistence with their students and knowing this work is so important for people with disabilities, without you this work could not be completedand the students and educators who welcomed me in this research, thank you for everything.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

We would like to thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Capes for funding the implementation of research projects and the Programa de Apoio à Pós-Graduação e à Pesquisa Científica e Tecnológica em Tecnologia Assistiva no Brasil (PGPTA) for development and innovation and academic cooperation with a view to training human resources (HR) in assistive technology in Brazil in partnership with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Secretariat of Human Rights, under the number of n°. 23038.008998/2011–20.