Extended Automatic Pointing Assistive Program-A pointing assistance program to help people with developmental disabilities improve their pointing efficiency

The latest research adopted software technology to improve pointing performance is through an Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (APAP). However, APAP has some limitations. This study evaluated whether two children with developmental disabilities would be able to improve their pointing performance through an Extended Automatic Pointing Assistive Program (EAPAP), which solves the limitations of APAP. Initially, both participants had their baseline sessions. Then intervention started with the first participant. When her performance was consolidated, new baseline and intervention occurred with the second participant. Finally, both participants were exposed to the maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. Data indicated that both participants improved their pointing efficiency with the use of EAPAP and remained highly successful through the maintenance phase. Results of this study showed that, with the assistance of EAPAP, participants can position targets quickly, easily and accurately, thus helping the disabled to solve their pointing problems. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.