Open AccessPromoting Choice Using Switches in People With Severe Disabilities: A Case Report
Author(s) -
Simone Zorzi,
Eva Marangone,
Fabrizio Giorgeschi,
Laura Berteotti
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
sage open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.357
H-Index - 32
ISSN - 2158-2440
DOI - 10.1177/21582440221082141
Subject(s) - psychology , intellectual disability , multiple disabilities , learning disability , developmental psychology , applied psychology , social psychology , psychiatry
People with severe intellectual disabilities have a remarkably high risk of spending most of their lifetime without the possibility of engaging their surroundings. This study aimed to verify if it is possible to teach operant and choice behaviours for autonomus managment of leisure activity throught switches to people with severe intellectual disabilities. A two-switches training program was implemented following three subsequent steps: (1) switch pressure learning; (2) choice behavior learning (Level 1: choices between preferred and non-preferred stimuli; Level 2: choices between preferred and neutral stimuli); (3) subjective satisfaction. A single subject (N=1) multiple probe design, using intermittent probe sessions across behaviors, demonstrated experimental control. Results confirm the effectiveness of training in promoting both repertoires of switch pressure and choice behavior. The response rate and accuracy were statistically significant ( r range: .83–.99). The study shed light on the possibility of autonomous activity management through switches for persons with severe intellectual disabilities.