Friday, March 20, 2015
Exhibit Hall Poster Area 1 (Convention Center)
Samuel W. Logan, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, Heather Feldner, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL and James C. Galloway, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
Background/Purpose: Independent mobility is a fundamental human right throughout the lifespan, not only for function but also to engage in enjoyment and exploration of the world around us. However, because the majority of our society views disability as an individual deficit rather than a social process of discrimination, and mobility technology as a last resort rather than an opportunity, we have created a significant social disparity in access, self-efficacy, independence, and play. In contrast, millions of typically developing children use battery-powered ride-on cars (ROCs) for enjoyment and exploration during childhood. Children with complex medical needs or disabilities deserve this same access to independent mobility and physical activity. Go Baby Go is a community-based, mobility technology research and outreach program that provides modified ROCs to children with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to determine the enjoyment and exploration through modified ROC use by children with complex medical needs.
Method: A case-series design was used and included three children (age range: 19 months to 5 years old). Children were video recorded using their ROC during the 20-week study.
Analysis/Results: Two of the three children demonstrated high levels of enjoyment during ROC use as indicated by the high and low frequency of positive and negative facial expressions, respectively. All three children successfully learned how to drive an ROC, based on the amount of independent driving time during each session.
Conclusions: ROC use appears to be a feasible and enjoyable mobility technology for children diagnosed with complex medical needs, both for enjoyment and to explore their environment. The ROC allowed children to engage in activities that their peers without disabilities often participate in during childhood.
