Self-Determination During Mealtimes Through Microswitch Choice-Making by an Individual with Complex Multiple Disabilities and Profound Mental Retardation:

The parents of a child with multiple medical and physical disabilities and profound mental retardation wanted her to be able to self-determine when, what, and how much she wanted to eat or drink from the selection presented. Formal assessments showed that the non-verbal child was unable to communicate her needs or choices in any meaningful manner. Using a microswitch technology, we taught her to make an observing response to a single response key. Results showed that although the child was very slow to learn the initial observing response, once this response was established, she rapidly learned the choice responses until she was able to determine the type of nourishment she wanted from the choices presented. Furthermore, her parents reported that the child continued to make food choices following termination of formal training.