Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026
07:37
Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness
Published on: August 1, 2017
Special text messaging communication systems for persons with multiple disabilities.
Giulio E Lancioni1, Mark F O'Reilly, Nirbhay N Singh
1Department of Psychology, University of Bari, Via Quintino Sella 268, Bari, Italy. g.lancioni@psico.uniba.it
Developmental Neurorehabilitation
|January 20, 2012
Summary
New text messaging technology enables individuals with multiple disabilities to write and send messages. This innovation enhances communication accessibility for those with significant physical and speech impairments.
Area of Science:
- Assistive Technology
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Background:
- Text messaging systems are crucial for communication.
- Individuals with multiple disabilities face significant challenges in using standard communication tools.
- Developing accessible messaging solutions is essential for social inclusion.
Observation:
- Two case studies explored novel technology-based solutions for text messaging.
- Study I utilized vocal scanning for alphabet selection in a participant with blindness and motor disability.
- Study II employed a touch-screen interface with alphabetical letter symbols for a participant with acquired brain injury and speech impairment.
Findings:
- Participants successfully learned to write, send, and receive text messages.
- Intervention sessions demonstrated effective message composition and comprehension.
- The developed solutions facilitated message exchange for individuals with severe communication barriers.
Implications:
- Text messaging systems can be adapted to meet the needs of individuals with multiple disabilities.
- Technological advancements hold promise for improving communication accessibility.
- Further development of these systems can significantly enhance the quality of life for users.
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