Future bathroom: A study of user-centred design principles affecting usability, safety and satisfaction in bathrooms for people living with disabilities

Research and development work relating to assistive technology 2010-11 (Department of Health) Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 197

RoboTalk - Prototyping a Humanoid Robot as Speech-to-Sign Language Translator

Information science mostly focused on sign language recognition. The current study instead examines whether humanoid robots might be fruitful avatars for sign language translation. After a review of research into sign language technologies, a survey of 50 deaf participants regarding their preferences for potential reveals that humanoid robots represent a promising option. The authors also 3D-printed two arms of a humanoid robot, InMoov, with special joints for the index finger and thumb that would provide it with additional degrees of freedom to express sign language. They programmed the robotic arms with German sign language and integrated it with a voice recognition system. Thus this study provides insights into human–robot interactions in the context of sign language translation; it also contributes ideas for enhanced inclusion of deaf people into society

Communicating with Humans and Robots: A Motion Tracking Data Glove for Enhanced Support of Deafblind

In this work, we discuss the design and development of a communication system for enhanced support of the deafblind. The system is based on an advanced motion tracking Data Glove that allows for high fidelity determination of finger postures with consequent identification of the basic Malossi alphabet signs. A natural, easy-to-master alphabet extension that supports single-hand signing without touch surface sensing is described, and different scenarios for its use are discussed. The focus is on using the extended Malossi alphabet as a communication medium in a Data Glove-based interface for remote messaging and interactive control of mobile robots. This may be of particular interest to the deafblind community, where distant communications and robotized support and services are rising. The designed Data Glove-based communication interface requires minimal adjustments to the Malossi alphabet and can be mastered after a short training period. The natural interaction style supported by the Data Glove and the popularity of the Malossi alphabet among the deafblind should greatly facilitate the wider adoption of the developed interface

How a Diverse Research Ecosystem Has Generated New Rehabilitation Technologies: Review of NIDILRR’s Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers

Over 50 million United States citizens (1 in 6 people in the US) have a developmental, acquired, or degenerative disability. The average US citizen can expect to live 20% of his or her life with a disability. Rehabilitation technologies play a major role in improving the quality of life for people with a disability, yet widespread and highly challenging needs remain. Within the US, a major effort aimed at the creation and evaluation of rehabilitation technology has been the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers (RERCs) sponsored by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research. As envisioned at their conception by a panel of the National Academy of Science in 1970, these centers were intended to take a “total approach to rehabilitation”, combining medicine, engineering, and related science, to improve the quality of life of individuals with a disability. Here, we review the scope, achievements, and ongoing projects of an unbiased sample of 19 currently active or recently terminated RERCs. Specifically, for each center, we briefly explain the needs it targets, summarize key historical advances, identify emerging innovations, and consider future directions. Our assessment from this review is that the RERC program indeed involves a multidisciplinary approach, with 36 professional fields involved, although 70% of research and development staff are in engineering fields, 23% in clinical fields, and only 7% in basic science fields; significantly, 11% of the professional staff have a disability related to their research. We observe that the RERC program has substantially diversified the scope of its work since the 1970’s, addressing more types of disabilities using more technologies, and, in particular, often now focusing on information technologies. RERC work also now often views users as integrated into an interdependent society through technologies that both people with and without disabilities co-use (such as the internet, wireless communication, and architecture). In addition, RERC research has evolved to view users as able at improving outcomes through learning, exercise, and plasticity (rather than being static), which can be optimally timed. We provide examples of rehabilitation technology innovation produced by the RERCs that illustrate this increasingly diversifying scope and evolving perspective. We conclude by discussing growth opportunities and possible future directions of the RERC program

The blossom method: development of a somatic psychotherapy model, its use in clinical and everyday settings: a heuristic, reflexive inquiry

The Public Works considered for this submission include The Blossom Method Model, a parenting book on this approach, and a therapeutic children’s book. The submission includes a detailed, heuristic and reflexive account of the life experiences, clinical and linguistic training, and influences which have contributed to these works, and considers the impact the works have made to the field of psychotherapy. Originally, The Blossom Method was developed with a focus upon non-verbal communication between parent and infant, using an integrative, relational approach with a particular emphasis on visual, kinaesthetic, gestural, sensorimotor communication. The model’s key components and the theoretical framework that it provides can be considered for use in psychotherapy training and practice. In this account the submission reflects upon the author’s formative years and the experience of being raised by a profoundly deaf, non-signing mother. It is recognised that parent-child communication and connectivity has been complex for the author, which influenced their decision to study linguistics and undertake immersion training as a sign language interpreter with a university, developing fluency in both BSL and English. The context statement explores the author’s leadership role in a charitable organisation; the various professional and personal challenges which led to psychotherapy training; the experience of infant loss; and motherhood which provided an opportunity to experiment with non-verbal communication and promote connection with the author’s daughter, Blossom. The model has been developed through heuristic learning, reflexive study and anecdotal research undertaken with parents and their infants, and it brings together linguistic training and therapeutic experience. The concepts of the model have been disseminated internationally through a popular parenting book, which has led to further research, speaking engagements, article writing, course content writing, and an involvement in training and developing a practice with parents and their infants, both Deaf and hearing. The submission provides the model explanation initially published in the book and discusses the theoretical influences which form the content for the Public Works. During the course of writing this submission, a particular feature in relation to influence and impact emerged, as the author noted that recognition reach has been achieved through the careful use of social media platforms. This has resulted in the author reaching international audiences in India, Australia, South Korea and South America. Although the model is perhaps not distinctly a ‘new’ approach to psychotherapy, the considerations and findings in relation to the ‘language of infants’ provide a platform for additional research in the field of infant somatic narratives. Furthermore, there is a distinctive synthesis of personal background, linguistic training, professional knowledge and expertise as a psychotherapist with both Deaf and non-deaf adults, children and infants

Assistive technologies for severe and profound hearing loss: beyond hearing aids and implants

Assistive technologies offer capabilities that were previously inaccessible to individuals with severe and profound hearing loss who have no or limited access to hearing aids and implants. This literature review aims to explore existing assistive technologies and identify what still needs to be done. It is found that there is a lack of focus on the overall objectives of assistive technologies. In addition, several other issues are identified i.e. only a very small number of assistive technologies developed within a research context have led to commercial devices, there is a predisposition to use the latest expensive technologies and a tendency to avoid designing products universally. Finally, the further development of plug-ins that translate the text content of a website to various sign languages is needed to make information on the internet more accessible

Interpersonal Communication Model for Children with Special Needs

The emphasis of this study is on how children who have special needs communicate with one another (deaf). Participant observation, interviews, and documentation are among the methods that are used throughout the data-gathering process. According to the findings of the research, the interpersonal communication model for deaf children is made up of two different models, one of which is the dyadic communication model. This kind of dyadic communication does not take place during the teaching and learning process; rather, it takes place outside of regular class hours. The whole communication model comes in at number two. Throughout the teaching and learning process, as well as outside of regular class hours, total communication is used. employing both symbolic interaction theory and ethnography theory as analytic frameworks. This demonstrates that the process of the interpersonal communication model is carried out face to face and at close distances, which makes it simpler to speak with deaf children since they are more accessible

Exploring the psychosocial experiences of adolescents with sequential cochlear implants

Section A is a review of the literature on the psychological and social implications of cochlear implants (CIs) in deaf children and adolescents. The literature is critically evaluated in relation to health-related quality of life, quality of life, psychological and emotional well-being, social well-being and identity. Relevant theories are outlined and discussed. Methodological limitations and gaps in the literature are discussed, and the review concludes with recommendations for further research. Section B describes a study using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore adolescent experiences of receiving and living with sequential cochlear implants (SCIs). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven adolescents. The master and sub-themes are presented and the results are discussed with consideration of previous research findings and theoretical, clinical and research implications. Most participants enjoyed improved confidence and social well-being following their SCI, and felt that two CIs were superior to one. The majority identified themselves as hearing and deaf, but not culturally Deaf, as they strived to live in the hearing world. However, this was not without challenges and many young people experienced feelings of difference in the hearing world. These findings have clinical implications in terms of the role of clinical psychologists in CI clinics, and in providing information to families making decisions about CIs. These findings add to the emergent deaf identity development literature in young people with CIs