Unprompted mechanical switch use in individuals with severe multiple disabilities: An evaluation of the effects of body position

Eight women with severe multiple disabilities were provided with simple mec hanical switches that when depressed, activated battery-operated leisure it ems. Switches were provided for 1 hr during recreation when participants we re sitting in wheelchairs and for 2 hr during therapeutic positioning when participants were lying on their beds or on wedges. No instructions or phys ical prompts were used to teach or maintain depression of the switch. Durat ion of switch depression in each session was recorded in 2 experimental con ditions: (a) sessions when switch depression produced immediate activation of the leisure device and (b) sessions when switch depression produced no a ctivation. Seven of eight participants showed higher rates of switch depres sion during conditions of immediate activation of the leisure device than i n no-activation conditions. Seven of eight participants also showed similar rates of switch depression across conditions in both sitting and nonsittin g positions.