Teaching individuals with profound multiple disabilities to access preferred stimuli with multiple microswitches

Area of Science:

• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Assistive Technology
• Developmental Disabilities

Background:

• Microswitch use is a key assistive technology for individuals with severe disabilities.
• Previous research explored microswitch-facilitated choice-making, but further replication and extension are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To replicate and extend research on microswitch-facilitated choice-making in adults with profound multiple disabilities.
• To assess the effectiveness of microswitches in promoting choice-making behavior.
• To investigate the reinforcing properties of preferred and less-preferred stimuli.

Main Methods:

• Six adults with profound multiple disabilities participated.
• Stimulus preference assessments were conducted.
• Participants were taught to operate two microswitches linked to preferred stimuli.
• A concurrent microswitch choice assessment was performed using preferred and less-preferred stimuli.

Main Results:

• All participants learned to activate both microswitches.
• Five participants increased responding when both preferred stimuli were concurrently available.
• Three participants demonstrated choice-making behavior favoring the most preferred stimulus.
• Three participants showed microswitch activation for both preferred and less-preferred stimuli.

Conclusions:

• Microswitch training is effective for individuals with profound multiple disabilities.
• Choice-making behavior can be established using microswitches.
• Both highly preferred and less-preferred stimuli can function as reinforcers, offering flexibility in intervention design.