Modified Ride-on Car Intervention for Children With Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities: A Case Series

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Developmental Disabilities

Background:

• Children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) often face significant challenges in mobility and engagement.
• Early intervention is crucial for maximizing developmental potential in this population.
• Power mobility offers a potential avenue for enhancing independence and participation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a modified ride-on car (MROC) intervention.
• To assess the impact of MROC intervention on mobility and alertness in young children with PIMD.
• To explore a novel caregiver-implemented prompting protocol for teaching MROC use.

Main Methods:

• A pilot clinical case series design (A-B) was employed.
• Four young children diagnosed with PIMD participated.
• Intervention involved modified ride-on car sessions with structured visual analysis of video-recorded data for mobility and alertness.

Main Results:

• Three out of four children demonstrated an increase in independent mobility during MROC intervention sessions.
• One child showed an increase in active alertness during the intervention period.
• The caregiver-implemented prompting protocol was utilized to facilitate MROC use.

Conclusions:

• The modified ride-on car intervention is feasible in a clinical setting for children with PIMD.
• MROC intervention shows promise for improving mobility and alertness in this population.
• Findings support consideration of power mobility for young children with PIMD and highlight a novel teaching approach.