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- Title
PODPORNE TEHNOLOGIJE PRI VKLJUČEVANJU V VISOKOŠOLSKI ŠTUDIJ -- PRIKAZ PRIMERA ŠTUDENTA S CEREBRALNO PARALIZO.
- Authors
Debeljak, Mojca; Marinček, Črt
- Abstract
Background: The paper presents a treatment in matching assistive technology with a student diagnosed with cerebral palsy, performed within an internal project at the University Rehabilitation Institute in Ljubljana entitled Assistive technology for students within the University of Ljubljana. The student was equipped with a powered wheelchair and a laptop, which he used in his everyday communication and inclusion into society and studies. His problems arose when taking notes that included graphs and complicated formulas within some courses, as well as at taking exams. Methods: Various instruments and scales for assessing effectiveness and satisfaction with assistive technologies were reviewed, and those appropriate for the 19-year old student with severe cerebral palsy and problems with verbal communication were selected and used (various instruments for Matching Person and Technology -- MPT, and the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale -- PIADS). Special software for solving his problems was presented to the student. Further communication on additional questions about the software was via email; in the same way, feedback about the success at exams and final results of MPT and PIADS after one year was obtained. Results: During his visit to our Institute, the student was assessed with various MPT tools: Initial Worksheet, with which we identified goals and interventions that were to accomplish writing equations and graphs on a computer during his studies; Educational Technology Predisposition Assessment, with which goals were implemented in the process of education; Survey of Technology Use, where we examined suitability of assistive technology; and Assistive Technology Device Predisposition Assessment (ATD PA). The student was also assessed with PIADS (with an average score of 1 for functional independence, 1.5 for well-being and 0.25 for quality of life; total average 1). An open-source program (Paint.NET) was presented to him as a solution for taking notes in graphical mode as well for using it for exams that included drawing graphs and writing formulas. We trained the student to use the program independently, with extended communication through e-mails. After one year of usage, the student filled in again ATD PA and PIADS. The results showed that the student improved in most of the areas, especially regarding self-esteem and influences on the match between the person and the technology for successful assistive technology use (PIADS average scores were 2.1 for functional independence, 2.0 for well-being and 1.25 for quality of life, total average 2). Conclusions: The study shows that appropriate assistive technology together with appropriate software can enable a student with severe cerebral palsy to be properly integrated into higher education programs.
- Publication
Rehabilitation / Rehabilitacija, 2017, Vol 16, Issue 2, p68
- ISSN
1580-9315
- Publication type
Article