Assistive technology to promote leisure and constructive engagement by two boys emerged from a minimal conscious state

BACKGROUND: Post-coma persons with multiple disabilities may represent a challenge to rehabilitation centers, due to their clinical conditions. Moreover, they can failed to engage adaptive responses aimed at the self-management of environmental stimuli. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact and social rating of a new assistive technology set-up for promoting constructive engagement by two post-coma boys emerged from a minimal conscious state. METHOD: During baseline sessions, the participants were provided with a mouse to manage the computer system. During intervention phases, a new technology was implemented, allowing both participants to manage environmental stimuli with a microswitch instead of the mouse. Furthermore, a social validation assessment was carried out, involving students as raters. RESULTS: Data showed an increasing of constructive engagement by both participants during intervention phases. Sixty psychology students (social raters) favoured the new technology on a six items questionnaire (i.e. enjoyment, suitability, rehabilitation, independence, daily context and support). CONCLUSIONS: The new technology was suitable, affordable, effective and socially preferable.