Using an orientation system for indoor travel and activity with persons with multiple disabilities

Purpose: The study assessed the effectiveness of an orientation system, con sisting of a programmable control device linked to acoustic and light sourc es? for facilitating independent indoor travel and activity in two persons with profound intellectual disability and blindness or severe visual impair ment. Method: The control device was programmed to activate each destination the persons were to reach and the acoustic or light sources leading to it autom atically (i.e. after a preset time from the persons reaching the previous d estination). One person was exposed to two baseline phases without the syst em being alternated with two orientation phases with the system; the other person received only one baseline and one orientation phase. Results: Data showed that during the orientation phases, both persons benef ited from the use of the system and could reach the destinations successful ly and carry out the activities. Conclusions: The possibility of promoting independent indoor travel and act ivity in persons with multiple disabilities may have important implications for the condition of these persons and for rehabilitation and care centres .