Assisting people with multiple disabilities and minimal motor behavior to improve computer pointing efficiency through a mouse wheel

This study evaluated whether two people with multiple disabilities and minimal motor behavior would be able to improve their pointing performance using finger poke ability with a mouse wheel through a Dynamic Pointing Assistive Program (DPAP) and a newly developed mouse driver (i.e., a new mouse driver replaces standard mouse driver, changes a mouse wheel into a thumb/finger poke detector, and intercepts mouse action). Initially, both participants had their baseline sessions. Then intervention started with the first participant. When his performance was consolidated, new baseline and intervention occurred with the second participant. Finally, both participants were exposed to maintenance phase, in which their pointing performance improved significantly. Both participants improved their pointing efficiency with the use of DPAP and remained highly successful through maintenance phase. Implications of the findings are discussed.