Persons with multiple disabilities use orientation technology to find room entrances during indoor traveling

These two studies assessed adapted orientation technology for promoting correct direction and room identification during indoor traveling by persons with multiple (e.g., sensory, motor and intellectual/adaptive) disabilities. In Study I, two adults were included who had severe visual impairment or total blindness and deafness and used a wheelchair for traveling. In Study II, two adults participated who had visual impairment or total blindness but were ambulatory. All participants were to travel to different rooms located along a hallway to carry out small activities. The orientation technology ensured that the participants received (a) a verbal instruction to go to their right or left and/or a vibratory cue to the right or left side of their body as soon as they exited a room to orient their travel within the hallway and (b) a similar verbal instruction and/or vibratory cue to turn and enter when they reached the next target room entrance. Results of both studies showed that the participants on wheelchairs and those able to ambulate were successful in using the technology, orient their travel, and find the appropriate room entrances. The findings are discussed in relation to the importance of independent indoor traveling and the impact of the new technology.