The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Driving to Learn in a Powered Wheelchair: The Process of Learning Joystick Use in People With Profound Cognitive Disabilities

På svenska

Author

Summary, in English

The Driving to Learn project explored ways to help people with profound cognitive disabilities practice operating a joystick-operated powered wheelchair. The project used a grounded theory approach with constant comparative analysis and was carried out over 12 yr. The participants were 45 children and adults with profound cognitive disabilities. Reference groups included 17 typically developing infants and 64 participants with lesser degrees of cognitive disability. The data sources included video recordings, field notes, open interviews, and a rich mixture of literature. The findings that emerged yielded strategies for facilitating achievements, an 8-phase learning process, an assessment tool, and a grounded theory of deplateauing explaining the properties necessary for participants to exceed expected limitations and plateaus. Eight participants with profound cognitive disabilities reached goal-directed driving or higher. Participants were empowered by attaining increased control over tool use, improving their autonomy and quality of life.

Publishing year

2011

Language

English

Pages

652-660

Publication/Series

American Journal of Occupational Therapy

Volume

65

Issue

6

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

American Occupational Therapy Association

Topic

  • Nursing
  • Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology
  • Occupational Therapy

Keywords

  • cognition disorders
  • learning
  • teaching
  • user-computer interface
  • wheelchairs

Status

Published

Research group

  • Sustainable occupations and health in a life course perspective
  • Family Medicine and Community Medicine

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0272-9490