Technology and Disability

Talking Mats™ is a framework developed to support communication with communication vulnerable people.

The objective was twofold: to provide an overview of the objectives, target groups and settings for which Talking Mats has been used (Part 1), and an overview of empirical scientific knowledge on the use of Talking Mats (Part 2).

In this scoping review scientific and grey literature was searched in PubMed, Cinahl, Psycinfo, Google, and Google Scholar. Articles that described characteristics of Talking Mats or its use were included. For Part 2, additional selection criteria were applied to focus on empirical scientific knowledge.

The search yielded 73 publications in Part 1, 12 of which were included in Part 2. Talking Mats was used for functional objectives (e.g. goal setting) and to improve communication and involvement. Part 2 showed that Talking Mats had positive influences on technical communication, effectiveness of conversations, and involvement and decision making in conversations. However, the level of research evidence is limited.

Talking Mats can be used to support conversations between professionals and communication vulnerable people. More research is needed to study the views of people who are communication vulnerable and to study the effects of Talking Mats.

Sight loss adversely affects older adults’ ( > 65 years) ability to complete daily activities. Digital technology can support functional performance but literature focusing on its use by older people with sight loss is limited.

To explore the meaning of digital technology, including factors influencing its adoption, from the perspectives of older adults with sight loss.

In-depth data was generated via a focus group ( n = 4) and analysed using thematic analysis. In addition, a questionnaire survey ( n = 30) increased breadth of knowledge regarding digital device adoption.

Following thematic analysis, digital technology was equated with complexity. Portable, easy-to-use technology and devices enabling meaningful outcomes were favoured. Barriers to adoption included: high cost, lack of accessible information, unreliability and constantly changing products. Conversely, resource exchange and an interest in technology facilitated acceptance. Physical properties, user interface, accessibility and practical experience concurrently hindered and supported device use. Survey results indicate that most non-digital adopters were > 80 years old, and commonly cited reasons were ‘lack of interest’ and ‘too difficult to use’.

Older adults with sight loss may be at particular risk of deeming digital technology to be inaccessible. Family and/or peer influence and experimenting with a device could challenge negative preconceptions.

To avoid falls in older adults, current solution is compensation using mobility aids.

Evaluating satisfaction of older adults with follow-up from their general practitioner and physiotherapist regarding their mobility aid.

A telephone survey was carried using a satisfaction questionnaire in 86 patients aged 87 + / - 6 years discharged from rehabilitation department of Hôpital Charles Foix, France.

Participants were satisfied with the follow-up from their general practitioner (78%) and their physiotherapist (93%) regarding their mobility aid. They judged the professionals competent, respectively 52% and 62%. Less than 50% of participants reported receiving advice and encouragement from the professionals regarding their mobility aid. The physiotherapist was preferred to the general practitioner regarding follow-up for the mobility aid. Follow-up of the professionals did not influence any change in mobility aid, which the patients determined themselves in two-thirds of cases.

Participants were satisfied with the follow-up by the general practitioner and physiotherapist regarding mobility aids, nevertheless, their follow-up demands of professionals, were superficial as they did not truly use them as resources. General Practitioners, physiotherapists and relatives’ help have to communicate with each other to properly influence changes of mobility aid in elderly people at home.

Children with Cornelia de Lange syndrome and severe developmental delays may present gait difficulties, and/or be unable of independent locomotion.

To introduce six children with Cornelia de Lange syndrome to a microswitch-based program for supporting locomotion fluency. To examine the awareness of microswitch responding. To evaluate its effects on participants’ positive participation. To carry out a social validation assessment with 108 external raters.

Study I exposed 6 participants with Cornelia de Lange syndrome to a microswitch-based program aimed at supporting locomotion fluency, the awareness of microswitch responding, and improving positive participation. Study II recruited 3 groups of raters (i.e., physiotherapists, practitioners, and psychologists) in a social validation assessment.

Data emphasized an increased performance and awareness of microswitch responding for all the participants involved. Social raters positively scored the use of the technology.

The microswitch-based program was effective for supporting locomotion fluency of children with Cornelia de Lange syndrome. External experts favorably assessed the implementation of the technology for daily use.