Using a Minicomputer Systern in Helping Severely and Multiply Handi-capped Children Learn to Communicate

Abstract

This paper is a report on an attempt to teach, with the aid of a minicomputer, severely and/or multiply handicapped, inarticulate children to com-municate through their tactual senses. Such an approach is one application of compute-aided instruction. First, a stand-alone system, with digital input-output capability, was designed in order to permit directly conversing with each child by means of developing and controlling sensory-level stimuli. An exercise, assumed to be difficult to teach through oral language only, was developed, programmed and used with the handicapped children. In this way it was possible to objectively measure individual differences in the learning of the exercise. On subject, deaf and mentally retarded, finally understood the exercise after a number of repetitions. It was eventually possible for him to perform even more difficult exercises, including the uttering of sounds. The experimental application of this computer system suggests itis possible to help these children develop their latent abilities.