Enhanced Steering and Drive Adaptations of Modified Ride-On Toy Cars for Improved Directional Control in Very Young Children With Severe Multiple Developmental Impairments.

Juan Aceros,Mary Lundy

doi:10.3389/fped.2020.00567

Abstract

Background and Purpose: One emerging power mobility device (PMD) option that has gained recognition as a means for a cost-effective introduction to power mobility for young children is the battery powered modified ride-on toy car. Many groups, nationally and internationally, have been modifying battery powered ride-on toy cars by adding seating support and a large center placed push button switch for motor activation. The purpose of this technical report is to introduce an enhanced steering and drive system based on proportional control through a joystick.Key Points: This report offers (1) a technical description of these modifications that allow directional steering and programmable starting and driving velocity, (2) an example of a modified ride on toy, including common seating modifications, and (3) a short summary of results from a group of 7 children under the age of six with complex, severe disabilities.Clinical Impact: Although proportional joystick modifications are more complex than the common single switch activation, they allow children greater control to achieve self-initiated, self-directed movement that allow play, peer interaction, and exploration in their natural environments, even in the most highly complex cases. All seven children were able to intentionally self-initiate activation of the modified ride-on car and experience the subsequent movement.

Highlights

The development of self-guided exploration plays a critical role in the maturation of cognitive, social, emotional and sensorimotor abilities in typically developing children [1]
Studies have reported that children with restricted independent mobility have lower rates of participation in life situations resulting in a perceived lower quality of life [9, 10]
Power mobility devices (PMD) provided to young children with mobility impairments have been shown to prevent some of these negative associated outcomes without causing deterioration of existing motor skills or interfering with development of new ones [11,12,13,14,15]. Despite these reported positive effects, power mobility device (PMD) is not typically recommended for children under the age of 3 years [16,17,18]

Summary

Introduction

The development of self-guided exploration plays a critical role in the maturation of cognitive, social, emotional and sensorimotor abilities in typically developing children [1]. Benson and Užgiris [2] demonstrated that infants who searched for a hidden object through selfinitiated locomotion found it more frequently than infants who were passively transported to search locations suggesting that there is an association between self-directed independent mobility and spatial perception learning and memory This concept is important when developing technologies that enhance the ability of children with severe disabilities to participate in life activities through independent power mobility. Nationally and internationally, have been modifying battery powered ride-on toy cars by adding seating support and a large center placed push button switch for motor activation The purpose of this technical report is to introduce an enhanced steering and drive system based on proportional control through a joystick

Methods

Results

Conclusion