Assistive Technology

Giulio E. Lancioni, Ph.D., is Professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari, Italy. He also spent many years at the Department of Psychology, University of Leiden, The Netherlands.  His research interests include development and assessment of assistive technologies, training of social and occupational skills, and evaluation of strategies for examining preference and choice with individuals with severe/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (including post-coma persons in a minimally conscious state and persons with Alzheimer's disease).  He has published widely in these areas and serves in the editorial board of several international journals concerned with these topics.Jeff Sigafoos, Ph.D., is Professor in the School of Educational Psychology and Pedagogy, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Prior to this position, held appointments at the University of Queensland, University of Sydney, and The University of Texas at Austin. His research interests include communication assessment and intervention for individuals with developmental and physical disabilities, educational programming for children with autism spectrum disorders, and the assessment and treatment of problem behavior in individuals with developmental and physical disabilities. He has published widely in these areas and is the Editor of Developmental Neurorehabilitation and co-editor-in chief of Evidence-based Communication Assessment and Intervention. Mark F. O’Reilly, Ph.D., holds the Mollie Villeret Davis Professorship in Learning Disabilities and is Professor of Special Education in the Department of Special Education at the University of Texas at Austin. He lectured in the Department of Psychology at University College Dublin, Ireland prior to his current appointment. His research interests include assessment and treatment of severe challenging behavior in individuals with autismspectrum disorders and other developmental disorders, design and evaluation of assistive technology to support individuals with severe and profound multiple disabilities, and communication/social skills interventions for individuals with intellectual disabilities. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities.Nirbhay N. Singh, Ph.D., is the Chief Learning and Development Officer at the American Health and Wellness Institute, Raleigh, NC. He was a Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics and Psychology at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and Director of the Commonwealth Institute for Family Studies, Richmond, Virginia prior to his current appointment. His research interests include behavioral and psychopharmacological treatments of individuals with disabilities, assistive technology for supporting individuals with severe and profound multiple disabilities, and mindfulness. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Child and Family Studies and Mindfulness, and Editor of the book series Mindfulness in Behavioral Health.

From the reviews: "This book focuses on two large groups: students who have a typical level of intellectual functioning combined with motor or sensory-motor and communication disabilities, and individuals with severe intellectual disabilities who may or may not have motor, sensory/motor and communication disabilities. ... This book is a valuable reference for practitioners in the field as it not only describes the different ways that assistive technology can be used, but also what intervention outcomes can be expected for specific populations." (Sandra E. James, Journal of child and Family Studies, Vol. 23, 2014) "[The book] is unique in that it provides a review of the academic literature concerning the evidence about the use of assistive devices designed for a population that can provide the most challenges... This text can be of significant assistance to the professional and interdisciplinary team that is working to provide services for an individual with serious and compounding challenges associated with multiple disabilities." Steven R. Pruett PsycCRITIQUES, September 11, 2013, Vol. 58, Release 37, Article 9

• Defining Assistive Technology and the Target Populations.- Use of Microswitches in Habilitation Programs.- Speech-Generating Devices for Communication and Social Development.- Instructional Technology for Promoting Academic, Work, and Leisure Skills.- Orientation Systems for Promoting Indoor Travel.- Assistive Technology for Promoting Ambulation.- Assistive Technology for Reducing Problem Behavior.