This handbook reviews current knowledge about developmental disabilities. It examines evidence-based practice, research, and policy issues related to developmental disabilities with consideration to recent developments in the field.

For people with severe/profound and multiple disabilities, managing the basic necessities of daily life often poses myriad challenges. Despite great odds, advances in assistive technology are making a difference in these individuals’ lives. Advances in microswitches, voice outcome communication aids, and computer-based systems are creating new opportunities for living independently, improving basic life skills, and reducing problem behaviors among individuals with combined motor, sensory, and intellectual disabilities. This unique volume examines how education and rehabilitation can improve the lives of even those individuals most affected by severe/profound and multiple disabilities. Interventions currently in use and in experimental stages are surveyed in terms of how they work and their applicability to clients with various needs. In addition, it examines the characteristics of developmentally disabled populations and offers guidelines for choosing suitable technologies. It presents empirical evidence on the advances in improving interaction with caregivers, control of the home environment, handling self-care tasks, and other core skills. Assistive Technology examines interventions that are innovative, respectful of the dignity of clients, and practical for ongoing use, including: • Microswitches in habilitation programs. • Speech-generating devices for communication and social development. • Instructional technology for promoting academic, work, and leisure skills. • Assistive technology for promoting ambulation. • Orientation systems for promoting movement indoors. • Assistive technology for reducing problem behaviors. A state-of-the-art guide to a growing field, Assistive Technology is an invaluable resource for researchers, clinicians, graduate students as well as clinicians and allied professionals in developmental psychology, rehabilitation and rehabilitative medicine, learning and instruction, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and educational technology.

This is the second volume of the two-volume set (CCIS 528 and CCIS 529) that contains extended abstracts of the posters presented during the 17th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2015, held in Heraklion, Crete, Greece in August 2015. The total of 1462 papers and 246 posters presented at the HCII 2015 conferences was carefully reviewed and selected from 4843 submissions. These papers address the latest research and development efforts and highlight the human aspects of design and use of computing systems. The papers thoroughly cover the entire field of human-computer interaction, addressing major advances in knowledge and effective use of computers in a variety of application areas. The papers included in this volume are organized in the following topical sections: mobile interaction and smart devices; social media; HCI in business and innovation; learning technologies; HCI in health; assistive technologies and environments; fitness and well-being applications; location and context awareness; urban interaction; automotive and aviation; design and user studies.

This guide provides information about paper-based tools and strategies that can support communication if speech is becoming or has become difficult due to an acquired progressive condition. It is written for people living with such a condition and also for family, carers and relevant professionals. Find videos and support materials if you or are a family member requires solutions to help communicate due to a progressive condition such as MND/ALS, PSP, MS, Parkinson's disease.

Contains picture symbols in 3 sizes for use with those needing nonverbal communication aids.

This book shows, for the first time, how research and clinical work can creatively complement one another, proving beneficial to both disciplines. Each chapter is written by a leading researcher and practitioner in the field, and the book covers a wide spectrum of approaches within different settings.