O acesso às tecnologias de informação e comunicação tem impactado significativamente a forma como as pessoas se relacionam com o mundo. Essas mudanças afetam a realização de atividades do dia-a-dia, as relações humanas, o trabalho e a aprendizagem. Para as pessoas com deficiência física, o desenvolvimento dos recursos de tecnologia tem possibilitado maneiras de interagir, de se comunicar e de participar em contextos diversos superando as barreiras impostas pelas suas limitações e pelo meio. A vigência de políticas públicas e de ações concretas em prol da inclusão contempla a diversidade humana e o direito de acesso à tecnologia para a comunicação, aprendizagem e trabalho para os cidadãos com deficiência. Para a efetivação da participação e aprendizagem dos alunos com deficiência nas escolas públicas brasileiras são disponibilizados os serviços do Atendimento Educacional Especializado (AEE) com vistas à eliminação de barreiras para o acesso à construção do conhecimento. É através da tecnologia assistiva apropriada que esses alunos poderão desenvolver suas competências possibilitando maior autonomia e independência na vida social de acordo com suas necessidades e interesses. Desta forma, este trabalho teve como foco principal a proposição de uma metodologia para avaliação em acessibilidade ao computador e à comunicação alternativa para alunos com deficiência física. Para tanto, utilizou-se do design de recursos e estratégias em Tecnologia Assistiva com apoio de produtos assistivos envolvendo um conjunto de recursos para acessibilidade ao computador e a comunicação alternativa. No cenário de estudo buscou-se o desenvolvimento da pesquisa-ação envolvendo a participação dos professores do AEE e de quatro alunos com deficiência física (paralisia cerebral) da rede municipal de educação de Florianópolis - SC. Os quatro alunos foram previamente selecionados por necessitarem de alternativas em recursos e estratégias para o acesso ao computador e à comunicação. Fizeram-se estudos de campo no ano letivo de 2010, e complementos no início de 2011. Sistematicamente, após os dados coletados durante as sessões com os alunos e professores, fez-se a análise e avaliação dos mesmos, e foram propostos fluxogramas para orientar na experimentação e implementação dos recursos de acesso ao computador. Finalmente, a construção de fluxogramas que orientam o processo de avaliação resultou em uma ferramenta útil de apoio aos professores e demais profissionais de equipes interdisciplinares. Assim, estas equipes formadas por educadores, profissionais da saúde, designers, engenheiros, e tendo os usuários como protagonistas, poderão realizar um processo de avaliação eficaz para seleção da tecnologia assistiva para o acesso ao computador e à comunicação alternativa, bem como o desenvolvimento de novos produtos e recursos inclusivos. / The access to information and communication technology has impacted the way people relate to the world. These changes affect the accomplishment of daily routine activities, human relationships, work and learning. For the people with physical disabilities, the development of technology resources has enabled them to interact, to communicate and to participate in different contexts overcoming the barriers set by the limitations and the environment. The present policies and actions towards inclusion consider the human diversity and the rights to access technology for communication, learning and work, by the citizens with disabilities. For the effectiveness of participation and learning approaches of students with disabilities in the Brazilian public schools, there are specialized educational services available. One of the objectives of these services is to eliminate the barriers for knowledge access. Providing the appropriate assistive technology, these students can develop their competences enabling them to achieve a greater autonomy and independence in social life according to their needs and interests. The main focus of this research is to propose a methodology for the assessment of computer and alternative communication access for students with physical disabilities. To do so, the design of resources and strategies in assistive technology was considered involving a collection of resources for the accessibility to the computer and communication. In the research scenario, an action-research was developed, which involved the participation of the specialized educational service teachers and four students with physical disabilities (cerebral palsy) from the municipal education system of Florianópolis –SC. The students were previously selected as they needed alternatives in resources and strategies for computer and communication access. The field studies were conducted in the school year of 2010 and complemented in the beginning of 2011. Systematically, after the data collected during the assessment sessions with the students and teachers, the analyses and evaluation of the data were done and flowcharts were proposed as a guide to consider the trials and implementation of computer access resources. Finally, the flowcharts proposed resulted in a useful tool to support teachers and members of interdisciplinary teams in the assessment processes. This way, teachers, health care providers, designers, engineers, together with the users as protagonists, can go through an efficient assessment process in assistive technology for the computer and alternative communication access as well as the development of new products and inclusive resources.

Cities have employed technologies in several domains to improve the delivery of public services, attend citizens\' demands, and measure the consumption of natural resources. Known as Smart Cities, these initiatives aim to increase the overall citizens\' quality of life, and they have already had a positive impact on the way citizens interact with urban spaces, services, and with each other. On the other hand, urban spaces can be considered as a threat to the independence and autonomy of people with disabilities. In fact, according to the Social Approach, disability is not in the individual, but in society and the environment, which does not provide adequate conditions for the individual to fully participate and be a citizen of social, professional, educational, recreational activities, and so on. Society and the environment need to be corrected and their deficiencies compensated to include a significant portion of the population that is excluded from a range of activities when their abilities are not addressed in urban communication processes. Although this group of citizens has gained access to education, work and leisure, it is necessary to confront the city and all its challenges in order to enjoy these rights. In order to extend the benefits of Smart Cities to people with disabilities, we first proposed the idea of an Inclusive Smart City, which employs Smart Cities technology to provide a better urban experience for people with disabilities while overcoming accessibility barriers in urban spaces. To achieve this goal, we began using a multi-instrument approach to collect data from different stakeholders - people with disabilities, professionals that work with people with disabilities, accessibility-related experts, and policymakers -, aiming at understanding the obstacles that people with disabilities face when they are moving around the city, the strategies they use to solve unexpected problems, and how they interact with other people and with urban facilities. Based on an empirical observation, literature review and results collected using this multiinstrument approach, we first defined Inclusive Smart Cities. Then, we proposed some tools to support practitioners and researchers involved in the development of digital urban assistive technologies with the Inclusive Smart City\'s vision in mind: a list of requirements, a political structure, an implementation/operation methodology, a business model, a conceptual model, and a system architecture. According to the conceptual model we introduced, people with disabilities are able to interact with inclusive smart objects that are available in urban spaces to obtain information about the environment around them, enabling them to navigate and explore cities in an innovative way. In Inclusive Smart Cities, inclusive smart objects provide people with disabilities with user-adapted information and services, focusing on the individuals\' abilities rather than their disabilities. Moreover, the system architecture is based on equipping users and the environment with smart technologies, aiming at supporting a symbiotic relationship between citizens and inclusive smart objects, a web-based user interface to enable public agents and local authorities to register and maintain the information required by the Inclusive Smart City platform, and the Cloud infrastructure, responsible for storing system data and processing user requests. Finally, we further demonstrated a Proof of Concept to assess the experience that people with disabilities would have when using an Inclusive Smart City solution. To accomplish that, we mapped a block of Paulista Avenue, in São Paulo, Brazil, as a sequence of QR codes. In a simulated circuit, when users read each code, they received location-based information and services related to the object linked to the code. The participants evaluated the UrbanAssist application positively and recognized the relevance of the functionalities and resources provided by the application, which gave them an inventive interface to explore the urban environment in a new, safer and effective way. In conclusion, this new technology has the potential not only to improve the independence and autonomy of people with disabilities in urban spaces, but also to enable them to play a proactive role in society as a whole. / As cidades têm empregado a tecnologia em diversos segmentos a fim de melhorar a qualidade de serviços prestados, para atender as demandas dos cidadãos, e para medir o consumo de recursos naturais. Conhecidas como Cidades Inteligentes, estas iniciativas buscam aumentar a qualidade de vida dos cidadãos, e já têm causado impactos positivos na maneira como os indivíduos interagem com o espaço urbano, com serviços, e com outros indivíduos. Por outro lado, o espaço urbano ainda é considerado como uma ameaça à autonomia e à independência de pessoas com deficiência. De fato, segundo o Modelo Social, a deficiência não está no indivíduo, mas na sociedade e no ambiente, que não fornecem condições apropriadas para que o cidadão participe inteiramente de atividades sociais, profissionais, educacionais, recreativas etc. A sociedade e o ambiente precisam ser corrigidos e suas deficiências compensadas para que ocorra a inclusão de uma parcela considerável da população que é excluída de uma série de atividades quando suas habilidades não são consideradas nos processos de comunicação urbanos. Embora esses cidadãos tenham ganhado acesso a educação, trabalho e lazer, o acesso pleno a esses direitos exige ter que lidar com o espaço urbano e todos os seus desafios. Com o objetivo de estender os benefícios das Cidades Inteligentes às pessoas com deficiência, inicialmente propomos o conceito de Cidades Inteligentes Inclusivas, que utiliza tecnologias das Cidades Inteligentes a fim de fornecer às pessoas com deficiência uma melhor experiência urbana ao mitigar as barreiras de acessibilidade nas cidades. A fim de alcançar este objetivo, utilizamos um método multi-instrumentos para coletar dados de diferentes interessados nesta temática - pessoas com deficiência, profissionais que trabalham na área, especialistas em acessibilidade, e criadores de políticas públicas - para melhor entender os obstáculos que as pessoas com deficiência enfrentam quando estão se locomovendo nos centros urbanos, as estratégias que eles usam para resolver problemas inesperados, e como eles interagem com outras pessoas e com os objetos e instalações urbanas. Baseado em observação empírica, em revisão da literatura, e nos resultados coletados pelo método multi-instrumentos, elaboramos a definição de Cidades Inteligentes Inclusivas e propomos algumas ferramentas para apoiarem autoridades governamentais, profissionais e pesquisadores envolvidos com o desenvolvimento de tecnologias assistivas urbanas digitais: uma lista de requisitos, estrutura política, metodologia de implantação e funcionamento, modelo de negócios, e uma arquitetura de sistema. De acordo com o modelo conceitual que apresentamos, as pessoas com deficiência são capazes de interagir com objetos inteligentes inclusivos no espaço urbano a fim de obter informações a respeito do ambiente ao redor, o que possibilita navegar e explorar nas cidades de uma maneira inovadora. Nas Cidades Inteligentes Inclusivas, os objetos inteligentes inclusivos fornecem às pessoas com deficiência informações e serviços adaptados às habilidades de cada usuário. A arquitetura do sistema é baseada em equipar os usuários e o ambiente com tecnologias inteligentes; uma interface web que permite a agentes públicos e autoridades municipais a cadastrar e manter as informações necessárias ao funcionamento da Cidade Inteligente Inclusiva; e pela infraestrutura da Cloud, que é responsável por armazenar os dados do sistema e por processar as requisições dos usuários. Finalmente, demonstramos com uma Prova de Conceito a avaliação da experiência de usuário que indivíduos com deficiência têm ao usar soluções concebidas com a visão de uma Cidade Inteligente Inclusiva. Para tanto, mapeamos como QR codes os objetos e prédios de um quarteirão da Avenida Paulista, em São Paulo. Num circuito simulado, ao ler cada código os usuários recebem com informações baseadas na localização do objeto lido e os serviços associados ao objeto. Os participantes avaliaram positivamente a aplicação Urban Assist e reconheceram a relevância das funcionalidades e recursos disponibilizados pela aplicação, que lhes proporcionaram uma interface inovadora para explorar o ambiente urbano de uma maneira mais segura e eficaz. Concluindo, essa nova tecnologia tem o potencial não somente de melhorar a independência e autonomia de pessoas com deficiência no espaço urbanos, mas, também de prover estes usuários com a possibilidade de desempenharem o papel de cidadãos proativos.

A subluxação do ombro é a complicação musculoesquelética mais comum das afecções do Sistema Nervoso Central e Periférico, que leva a diminuição do movimento, da função e aumento de dor. Um dos recursos auxiliares utilizados é a órtese que visa corrigir a deformidade, diminuir a dor e proporcionar a função. Este trabalho objetiva projetar e desenvolver o conceito de uma órtese personalizada estabilizadora de ombro. A metodologia de desenvolvimento de projeto de produto esta dividida em três fases: informacional, conceitual e projeto preliminar. Na fase informacional foi realizada pesquisa bibliográfica, de patentes e de mercado e foram entrevistados 30 prováveis usuários; coletados os dados antropométricos, força muscular manual e goniometria. Na fase conceitual, baseado na fase informacional e a partir da Metodologia TRIZ (Teoria da Resolução de Problemas Inventivos) foi proposto um desenho original de órtese híbrida, personalizada e manufaturada em tridimensional, usando estruturas rígidas e faixas de tração, que estabilizem o ombro, diminua a dor e permita a função. A fase do projeto preliminar foi composta por escaneamento tridimensional e uso de softwares que transformam uma imagem digitalizada em formato STL®. Foram realizadas sucessivas evoluções do projeto com geração de desenhos e peças prototipadas que foi avaliada por um usuário. Na fase informacional, a pesquisa de patentes e de mercado mostrou que há uma predominância dos modelos de órtese estabilizadora de ombro com material flexível onde o principal meio de tração é dado por faixas na diagonal e transversal ao tronco, tendendo a posicionar o ombro em rotação interna. Enquanto os usuários relataram expectativa de uma órtese que corrija o posicionamento, tenha melhor conforto térmico e tátil, menos cheiro e de fácil limpeza. O conceito desenvolvido foi: órtese personalizada, fácil de higienizar e de por/tirar, resistente, articulada, leve, em plástico ABS (acrilonitrila, butadieno e estireno) impressão tridimensional, com veste nos dois braços, com faixas de tração rígidas fixadas à cintura, visando à correção da subluxação do ombro com conforto, menor dor além de permitir função. O teste com usuário corroborou com o conceito, pois o protótipo preliminar apresentou bom acoplamento ao tronco, tração satisfatória e possibilidade de realizar um maior número de atividades diárias com menos dor e sensação de cansaço. / The shoulder subluxation is the most common musculoskeletal complication of Central and Peripheral Nervous System disorders, which leads to a decrease in movement, function and increase in pain. One of the resources used to help with this issue is the orthosis that aims to correct the deformity, decrease the pain and provide function. This work aims to design and develop the concept of a personalized shoulder stabilizing orthosis. The methodology used on the product design is divided into three phases: informational, conceptual and preliminary design. In the informational phase, bibliographic, patent and market research were carried out and 30 potential users were interviewed; anthropometric data, manual muscle strength and goniometry were collected. In the conceptual phase, based on the informational data and using TRIZ Methodology (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving), an original concept design of a hybrid orthosis, personalized and manufactured three-dimensional, using rigid structures and traction bands, was proposed to stabilize the shoulder, reduce pain and allow function. The preliminary design phase consisted of tridimensional scanning and the use of software that transformed a scanned image into STL®. Successive evaluations of the project were carried out with generation of designs and prototyped parts - which the user has evaluated. During the informational phase, the patent and market research demonstrated a predominance of the stabilizing orthosis models using flexible material where the main form of traction was given by diagonal and transverse bands to the trunk, tending to position the shoulder in internal rotation. Users have reported the expectation that this orthosis could correct the shoulder positioning and that it has a better thermal and tactile comfort, less smell and easier to clean. The concept developed was: a personalized orthosis, easy to sanitize and to put on/take off, resistant, articulated, lightweight, in ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), three-dimensional printing, with a vest in both arms, rigid traction bands fixed to the waist, aiming to correct the shoulder subluxation with comfort, less pain while allowing function. The user test corroborated with the concept, as the preliminary prototype presented good trunk coupling, satisfactory traction and the possibility to perform a greater number of daily activities with less pain and less fatigue caused by limb weight.

Tecnologias assistivas computacionais, ou Alta Tecnologia Assistiva (ATA) não podem prescindir de customização para atender efetivamente pessoas com deficiência nas atividades de vida diária e em terapia de reabilitação. Hoje, tais tecnologias são ofertadas de forma padronizada, cabendo aos terapeutas adaptarem-nas para que seus pacientes possam usá-las. O design participativo (DP), como metodologia de envolvimento ativo do usuário no processo de projeto, adequa-se bem à ideia de customização de ATAs, permitindo a participação ativa do usuário com deficiência como co-designer da sua solução. Apesar disso, são raros os estudos que apresentam recomendações para o DP incluindo esses usuários. Quando se considera métodos de DP para incluir pessoas com deficiência, independentemente da deficiência apresentada, nenhum trabalho de pesquisa foi localizado. Visando preencher essa lacuna, esta pesquisa tem o objetivo de propor o PD4CAT Participatory Design for Customized Assistive Technology, método que objetiva auxiliar equipes multidisciplinares a conceberem soluções computacionais customizadas utilizando o DP para o envolvimento ativo da equipe - que inclui a pessoa com deficiência, seus terapeutas e cuidadores - no ciclo de design e desenvolvimento. A metodologia adotada neste trabalho para obter a proposta do PD4CAT foi a pesquisa-ação, em dois ciclos que inseriram os pesquisadores em instituições de reabilitação. Neste processo, foram realizados dois estudos de caso de desenvolvimento de ATAs personalizadas para dois pacientes com paralisia cerebral, com deficiências motora e verbal, sendo um adulto de quarenta e seis anos (M) e, uma criança de quatro anos (MI). Resultaram deste processo as diretrizes que compõem o PD4CAT, bem como as soluções em TAs. / Customization is essential for Computer Assistive Technologies, or High Assistive Technology (HAT), to effectively meet the needs of people with disabilities in their daily activities and in rehabilitation therapy. These technologies are currently provided in a standardized way, and therapists have to adapt them so that their patients can use them. Participatory design (PD), as a methodology that actively involves the user in the design process, is very adequate to customize HATs, allowing active participation by users with impairments as co-designers of their solutions. However, few are the studies presenting recommendations to PD including these users. No research work was spotted considering PD methods to include people with disabilities, independently of their impairment. Aiming to fill this gap, this research proposes PD4CAT Participatory Design for Customized Assistive Technology, a method to aid multidisciplinary teams to conceive customized computer solutions using PD for actively involving the team - which includes persons with impairments, their therapists and caretakers in the design and development cycle. The methodology adopted in this work for obtaining the PD4CAT proposal was the research-action, in two cycles that inserted the researchers in rehabilitation institutions. In the process, two case studies were conducted for developing customized HATs for two patients with cerebral palsy, with motor and verbal impairments, one being a forty-six-year old adult (M) and a four-year-old child (MI). This process resulted in the guidelines composing PD4CAT, as well as the AT solutions.

Education professionals are challenged with re-evaluating the learning capacity of students with developmental disabilities (e.g., intellectual disabilities, autism). Assistive technology (AT) provides both the means for delivery of instruction and the measure of outcomes. Students with developmental disabilities are learning to read and develop general education English Language Arts (ELA) skills across the grade span. This article summarizes ten selected research studies that demonstrate gains of students with developmental disabilities, including individuals who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), who have made measurable strides in literacy general education ELA skills. This selected research focused on literacy interventions specifically created for students with developmental disabilities which incorporated the use of AT, use systematic instruction and shared stories, and are commercially available. The research studies include a range of literacy instruction from picture books and early literacy skills to adapted contemporary fiction novels grade aligned to general education secondary level ELA. In these research protocols, AT facilitated both the delivery oof instruction and measure of outcomes.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) has been identified as a contemporary instructional model for promoting inclusion and equitable opportunities for diverse and struggling learners. However, research regarding teachers' perceptions of UDL and its effective implementation is limited, making planning, implementing, and providing professional development difficult for administrators. Guided by the constructivist views of Vygotsky and Piaget, this qualitative case study was designed to understand teachers' knowledge and perceptions of how UDL can be used to promote equitable inclusive instruction, implementation barriers, educational applications for UDL, and perceived needs to implement UDL. Participants were teachers who had implemented UDL from a public charter school serving only students in Grades 3-11 with low incidence disabilities; 20 participated in an online survey, 7 participated in an individual interview, and 3 participated in a group interview. Data were coded and analyzed for common themes. Participants expressed resistance to change, negative impressions of UDL, and disability bias. Recommendations for administrators included strategies for implementation of UDL, periodic collection of teachers' perceptions of UDL for formative purposes, modeling UDL for teachers, monitoring teachers' lesson plans, and classroom observations. This study contributes to social change by identifying teachers' perceptions of their own knowledge, needs, and barriers to implementation of UDL in order assist administrators in effectively preparing them for delivery of instructional services to enhance learning for all diverse and struggling students.

The objective of this dissertation is to provide a new design approach to a fully automated book reader for individuals with visual impairment and blindness that is portable and cost effective. This approach relies on the geometry of the design setup and provides the mathematical foundation for integrating, in a unique way, a 3-D space surface map from a low-resolution time of flight (ToF) device with a high-resolution image as means to enhance the reading accuracy of warped images due to the page curvature of bound books and other magazines. The merits of this low cost, but effective automated book reader design include: (1) a seamless registration process of the two imaging modalities so that the low resolution (160 x 120 pixels) height map, acquired by an Argos3D-P100 camera, accurately covers the entire book spread as captured by the high resolution image (3072 x 2304 pixels) of a Canon G6 Camera; (2) a mathematical framework for overcoming the difficulties associated with the curvature of open bound books, a process referred to as the dewarping of the book spread images, and (3) image correction performance comparison between uniform and full height map to determine which map provides the highest Optical Character Recognition (OCR) reading accuracy possible. The design concept could also be applied to address the challenging process of book digitization. This method is dependent on the geometry of the book reader setup for acquiring a 3-D map that yields high reading accuracy once appropriately fused with the high-resolution image. The experiments were performed on a dataset consisting of 200 pages with their corresponding computed and co-registered height maps, which are made available to the research community (cate-book3dmaps.fiu.edu). Improvements to the characters reading accuracy, due to the correction steps, were quantified and measured by introducing the corrected images to an OCR engine and tabulating the number of miss-recognized characters. Furthermore, the resilience of the book reader was tested by introducing a rotational misalignment to the book spreads and comparing the OCR accuracy to those obtained with the standard alignment. The standard alignment yielded an average reading accuracy of 95.55% with the uniform height map (i.e., the height values of the central row of the 3-D map are replicated to approximate all other rows), and 96.11% with the full height maps (i.e., each row has its own height values as obtained from the 3D camera). When the rotational misalignments were taken into account, the results obtained produced average accuracies of 90.63% and 94.75% for the same respective height maps, proving added resilience of the full height map method to potential misalignments.

<p>Syftet med uppsatsen är att bidra till att öka kunskapen om hur tekniska hjälpmedel kan användas för att underlätta vardagen för vuxna människor med ADHD.  För att åstadkomma detta görs en genomgång av vilka problem som kan föreligga vid ADHD och vilka strukturer och aktörer som finns i samhället för att erbjuda hjälp och stöd som vuxna med ADHD kan ha behov av. Därefter betraktas vilka strategier och metoder som kan vara användbara för att kompensera för de problem ADHD kan innebära och hur teknik, såväl specialtillverkade hjälpmedel som vanliga produkter, kan användas för att kompensera. En översikt görs av hur teknik kan utformas för att bli användbar, såväl generellt som mer specifikt rörande utformning av hjälpmedel. Detta åskådliggörs genom exempel från några svenska hjälpmedelsprojekt följt av en probleminventering där ett antal studiebesök och intervjuer har tjänat som en bakgrund för förståelse av den stora mängd strukturer, aktörer och hjälpmedel som är möjliga men emellanåt svårtillgängliga vägar till hjälp för vuxna med ADHD.</p><p> </p><p>De som i slutänden kan avgöra vilken nytta ett hjälpmedel innebär är brukarna själva. Deras upplevelser och erfarenheter är en ovärderlig källa till kunskap. Under arbetets gång har frågeställningen preciserats till att lyda: <em>"Hur kan vanliga mobiltelefoner användas som hjälpmedel för att underlätta vardagen för vuxna med ADHD?"</em>.<em> </em>För att besvara denna fråga har semistrukturerade riktade intervjuer genomförts med fyra kvinnor med ADHD som använder mobiltelefonen som hjälpmedel i sin vardag. Intervjuerna har transkriberats och kategoriserats för att identifiera hur mobiltelefoner används, vad som fungerar bra och mindre bra och vad kan göra att mobiltelefonen upplevs som ett fungerande hjälpmedel.</p><p> </p><p>Resultaten från bearbetning och analys av intervjuerna sammanställs i kapitlet sammanfattande analys i avsnitt med användbara funktioner, användbara egenskaper och perspektiv på stödbehov och hjälparroll. I diskussionskapitlet föreslås sedan vidare användning av resultaten i avsnitten teoretiska implikationer och praktiska implikationer. Min förhoppning är att dessa avsnitt tillsammans med de listor och tumregler som presenterats i den teoretiska referensramen skall kunna vara användbara för att identifiera behov och möjliga lösningar som kan vara värdefulla att pröva i det enskilda fallet.</p><p> </p><p>En person kan behöva stöd för att ta till vara de möjligheter mobiltelefonen erbjuder som hjälpmedel. Hjälpen kan behövas i något eller alla steg från problemidentifiering och införskaffande till införande, fortlöpande uppföljning och utvärdering av hjälpmedelsanvändningen. Stödet kan behöva vara av så väl strukturell och habiliterande art som av teknisk natur för att hjälpmedelsanvändningen skall bli så framgångsrik som är möjligt. Siktet bör vara mot vad som kan innebära kvalitet, mervärde och avlastning för individen i dennes liv, inte vad som är ADHD-symptom och hur dessa skall kompenseras.</p><p> </p><p>Vuxna med ADHD är en mycket heterogen grupp och de resultat som presenteras i uppsatsen är att betrakta som en utgångspunkt för vidare funderingar och prövning snarare än som färdiga lösningar som passar alla med ADHD.</p><p> </p>

For older adults, functional independent mobility is essential to well-being. Many care home residents have physical and cognitive impairments and use wheelchairs. Residents with difficulty self-propelling manual wheelchairs may benefit from power mobility; however, those with cognitive impairments may be precluded because of the potential for injury. My research goals were to apply novel power wheelchair technology to enable safe, independent mobility. Technology was developed to examine the value and implications of power mobility for residents with restricted mobility and mild or moderate cognitive impairments. The first study tested a prototype anti-collision wheelchair with a contact sensor skirt. Six single subject studies were completed. Distances travelled in manual and anti-collision wheelchairs were compared. Observational and interview data were collected. Focus groups (37 staff) and interviews (18 staff, six other residents, one spouse) were performed. Three of six residents were able or had potential to operate the prototype. One resident chose to use it beyond the study, and his mobility and well-being improved. Case analyses showed factors limiting prototype acceptance. Residents were unsatisfied with the appearance and slow speed, and found the interface frustrating to operate because of inadequate feedback. Social isolation and reduced autonomy restricted independence achievable with technology. Socialization and affective benefits of mobility were demonstrated in one case where prototype use was continually assisted. Residents and staff supported the anti-collision concept. On observation, the prototype compensated for absent or delayed responses of residents to obstacles below sensors and decreased injury risk. However, full sensor coverage of the environment was needed. The second study addressed acceptance and interface usability issues. A simulated collision-avoidance wheelchair with a multimodal feedback interface was evaluated. The interface provided audio, visual and haptic feedback to guide navigation away from obstacles. Through observations, interviews and questionnaires, five residents evaluated the device. High device acceptance and usability were found. The device was easy to use and assisted with performance of indoor mobility goals. Further research is necessary before power wheelchairs with new features are available for users; however, these results could play a fundamental role in shaping technology development and mobility interventions for this neglected population.

For older adults, functional independent mobility is essential to well-being. Many care home residents have physical and cognitive impairments and use wheelchairs. Residents with difficulty self-propelling manual wheelchairs may benefit from power mobility; however, those with cognitive impairments may be precluded because of the potential for injury. My research goals were to apply novel power wheelchair technology to enable safe, independent mobility. Technology was developed to examine the value and implications of power mobility for residents with restricted mobility and mild or moderate cognitive impairments. The first study tested a prototype anti-collision wheelchair with a contact sensor skirt. Six single subject studies were completed. Distances travelled in manual and anti-collision wheelchairs were compared. Observational and interview data were collected. Focus groups (37 staff) and interviews (18 staff, six other residents, one spouse) were performed. Three of six residents were able or had potential to operate the prototype. One resident chose to use it beyond the study, and his mobility and well-being improved. Case analyses showed factors limiting prototype acceptance. Residents were unsatisfied with the appearance and slow speed, and found the interface frustrating to operate because of inadequate feedback. Social isolation and reduced autonomy restricted independence achievable with technology. Socialization and affective benefits of mobility were demonstrated in one case where prototype use was continually assisted. Residents and staff supported the anti-collision concept. On observation, the prototype compensated for absent or delayed responses of residents to obstacles below sensors and decreased injury risk. However, full sensor coverage of the environment was needed. The second study addressed acceptance and interface usability issues. A simulated collision-avoidance wheelchair with a multimodal feedback interface was evaluated. The interface provided audio, visual and haptic feedback to guide navigation away from obstacles. Through observations, interviews and questionnaires, five residents evaluated the device. High device acceptance and usability were found. The device was easy to use and assisted with performance of indoor mobility goals. Further research is necessary before power wheelchairs with new features are available for users; however, these results could play a fundamental role in shaping technology development and mobility interventions for this neglected population.