2001-2002 BME Senior Design Project

Toy for Handicapped Child

Theresa CarrAdrienne Dula

Advisor: Ms. Reesi Davis

Special Education Teacher

Tom Joy Elementary School

Roughly 2% of pre-school and school-Roughly 2% of pre-school and school-aged children in the United States are aged children in the United States are mentally handicapped and also suffer mentally handicapped and also suffer from visual deficienciesfrom visual deficiencies

4% of non-handicapped children also 4% of non-handicapped children also exhibit deficiencies in their visual tracking exhibit deficiencies in their visual tracking skillsskills

Background:

Most products that help improve visual tracking abilities Most products that help improve visual tracking abilities are designed for adults and are too complicated for are designed for adults and are too complicated for handicapped childrenhandicapped children

There are few toys available on the market that:There are few toys available on the market that: make children utilize their tracking/pursuit eye movements make children utilize their tracking/pursuit eye movements keep child’s attentionkeep child’s attention are safe for handicapped child useare safe for handicapped child use are inexpensiveare inexpensive

Available Products:

Month December January February March April

Week 1

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Meet with Advisor                                        

Meet with child and family                                        

Research available toys                                        

Research available testing procedures - (consult experts)                                        

Decide and implement testing method                                        

Research materials for device                                        

Decide and purchase materials necessary to build structural device                                        

Build structural device                                        

Research and Design electrical circuitry                                        

Build electrical circuitry                                        

Build device                                        

Test child's initial visual tracking skills                    

                   

Test and de-bug device                                        

Present device to child                                        

Test child's resulting visual tracking skills                                        

 

              

Criteria for Toy:Criteria for Toy:

After observing the children in Ms. Davis’s After observing the children in Ms. Davis’s class room and discussing her desires for the class room and discussing her desires for the toy decided on priorities:toy decided on priorities:

Priorities (in order of rank):Priorities (in order of rank):• SafeSafe• Keep child entertained (fun)Keep child entertained (fun)• Improve visual tracking skillsImprove visual tracking skills• DurableDurable• Utilize other skills (fine motor skills/reasoning)Utilize other skills (fine motor skills/reasoning)• AffordableAffordable

Diagram of Problem FormulationDiagram of Problem Formulation

Schematic of Proposed Toy

Tubing: Tubing: clear/transparentclear/transparent

corrugatedcorrugated

4” diameter4” diameter

Photosensors/Motion sensorPhotosensors/Motion sensor & lights surrounding entrance& lights surrounding entrance

Materials:

InSight 2: InColor InSight 2: InColor • visual search task that utilizes a choice visual search task that utilizes a choice

reaction time procedurereaction time procedure• Subject presented with arrays of 2,8, and 32 Subject presented with arrays of 2,8, and 32

stimulus items and must accurately decide stimulus items and must accurately decide whether the target stimulus is whether the target stimulus is present present or or absent absent (press “P” or “A” on keyboard) (press “P” or “A” on keyboard)

• Choice of stimulus items:Choice of stimulus items:

Testing:

E F

• Each trial is timed and data is analyzed after 36 trialsEach trial is timed and data is analyzed after 36 trials• Example arrays:Example arrays:

Testing:

InSight 2 software is available on Wilson Hall Mac InSight 2 software is available on Wilson Hall Mac computercomputer Meeting schedule w/ Dr. Blake (Psy) concerning access to Meeting schedule w/ Dr. Blake (Psy) concerning access to

softwaresoftware

Bi-weekly visits to Tom Joy ElementaryBi-weekly visits to Tom Joy Elementary Awaiting completed permission slip from child’s parents Awaiting completed permission slip from child’s parents

Decide which sensor and lights best for toy Decide which sensor and lights best for toy Begin construction of frame/base of deviceBegin construction of frame/base of device

Current Work:

Future Work:

Test initial visual pursuit ability of childTest initial visual pursuit ability of child Also test age matched control group and fine motor skillsAlso test age matched control group and fine motor skills

Bi-weekly visits to Tom Joy ElementaryBi-weekly visits to Tom Joy Elementary Awaiting completed permission slip from child’s parents Awaiting completed permission slip from child’s parents

Order/construct sensor and lights for toy Order/construct sensor and lights for toy Assemble entire device and present to childAssemble entire device and present to child Finalized cost analysis of deviceFinalized cost analysis of device Test visual tracking skills of child after repeated use Test visual tracking skills of child after repeated use

of toyof toy

Contact Information:Contact Information:

http://vubme.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/group25_01/http://vubme.vuse.vanderbilt.edu/group25_01/

Theresa CarrTheresa Carre-mail: e-mail: theresa.d.carr@vanderbilt.edutheresa.d.carr@vanderbilt.edu

Adrienne DulaAdrienne Dulae-mail: e-mail: adrienne.n.dula@vanderbilt.eduadrienne.n.dula@vanderbilt.edu