Background: New technology may stimulate active leisure activities for people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD). We conducted a study of an interactive ball that responded to gross body movement, focus of attention, and vocalisations of users with PIMD. The aim was to increase alertness and body movement and elicit more…

Purpose: This study reports a secondary analysis of the nature of communicative functions and modalities used in initiations and responses of minimally verbal preschoolers with severe autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from a previously published study (Thiemann-Bourque, Feldmiller, Hoffman, & Johner, 2018). This analysis focused on the final…

Introduction: In this study, the author examined the association between general self-efficacy (GSE) and employment status in working-age adults with retinitis pigmentosa (RP; N = 183). The author further examined the associations between employment status and factors that were previously found to be linked to employment outcomes in individuals…

Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA) has emerged as a valuable tool for EFL learning by offering interactive authentic contexts. Although IPA is believed to be motivational and useful, empirical evidence is limited and contradictory, especially the efficacy of listening comprehension. Therefore, the study investigated the impact of IPA on…

This research explored the transformative potential of technology in special education, informed by the researcher's extensive experience in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Highlighting the case of a nonspeaking student with autism who made significant academic progress using an augmented alternate communication (AAC), device, the study…

Eye-gaze technology provides access to a computer through the control of eye movements, thus allowing students with severe motor and communication difficulties to communicate and participate in curriculum activities and leisure; however, few studies have investigated whether any challenges exist to its implementation. This study examines the…

Purpose: The use of sign-supported speech (SSS) in the education of deaf students has been recently discussed in relation to its usefulness with deaf children using cochlear implants. To clarify the benefits of SSS for comprehension, 2 eye-tracking experiments aimed to detect the extent to which signs are actively processed in this mode of…

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the accuracy of impedance cardiography (ICG) for hemodynamic assessment in wheelchair rugby players during rest and exercise. Method: The study included 21 players (mean age 33.0 ± 5.4, 86% male) with posttraumatic tetraplegia. ECG, echocardiography, and gas exchange analysis during rest and exercise…

This technology report outlines the design and construction of a simple Arduino-based pH sensor using universal pH paper; it can be assembled for less than $40 and is ideal for use in laboratory classrooms teaching students with visual disabilities. The device is simple to construct and suitable for adoption in school chemistry laboratories…

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to study how voice use in daily life is impacted by Parkinson's disease (PD), specifically if there is a difference in voice sound level and phonation ratio during everyday activities for individuals with PD and matched healthy controls. A further aim was to study how variations in environmental noise impact…

Purpose: A group of 10 prelingually deafened children with cochlear implants (CIs) formed a choir and received 21 months of formal music training. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the singing proficiency of these children. Method: The participants included all choir members (7 girls and 3 boys, mean age of 9.5 years old) who were…

In regard to preschool students with disabilities, teachers need support implementing assistive technology and there is little known about factors that influence teachers' perceptions of assistive technology benefits. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe how the perceptions of early childhood special education teachers…

Background/purpose: This study investigates the state of education for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Afghanistan, focusing on the challenges and opportunities within special vocational schools and inclusive education practices. Despite legislative frameworks like the 2004 Constitution and the ratification of the CRPD in 2012, systemic…

In Canada, access to post-secondary education (PSE), which includes university, college, or apprenticeship programs, is becoming ever more important in terms of securing future employment, long-term health, and economic security. Kirby (2009) points to Canada's universal level of PSE access; however, also notes how access for students with…

Inclusive post-secondary education (PSE) for students with intellectual disabilities (IDs) is becoming increasingly common in colleges and universities. A majority of these inclusive PSE programs focus on academic enrichment, socialization, independent living skills, integrated work experiences, and career skills. Thus, in inclusive PSE programs,…