vtesting at Overbrook

Testing OVERBROOK
Wednesday 12/16/2009 set up
Thursday 12/17/2009 8 AM – 2:30 PM
Friday 12/8/2009 8 AM – 2:00 PM

This procedure is proposed for testing at Overbrook School for the Blind. Steve may need to modify these procedures depending on local conditions.

Overbrook staff are scheduling students for 45 minute periods, based on availability. They will have the consents signed and the pre-questionnaires completed.

Christine will send the student names (by Wednesday) so we can set up the ID numbers.

I met with Jackie and Judy, and three O&M specialist, Christine, John, and Kim.

I met four (ood the 8) students who were available. They were great and I got to explain the entire project to them.

Procedure for trials.
45 minute sessions. Thirty minutes of veering and 15 minutes of cane coverage.

Veering:

1. On Thursday staff will check that the pre-trial survey has been completed.

2. The staff will measure the height of the belt-mounted wii remote and input the values in the program user interface.

3. For the Thursday initial trials for veering, the subject will have the goals and procedures of the exercise explained in appropriate language by the staff. Note: the staff will emphasize that we are testing the cane, not the subject.

4. Subject will be shown the belt-attaching wii remote. The remote band will be put around the subject’s waist and adjusted to fit comfortably. The remote angle will adjusted to point vertical toward the infrared light strip. If subject is wearing loose clothing, the staff will use clips to secure the clothing so it does not interfere with the wii remote. If the subject’s hair is blocking the remote camera, it will be adjusted by the subject and/or the staff.

5. Subject will be shown the wiiCane, the imbedded remote, and the shaft. Subject will demonstrate how they move the cane left and right in constant-contact techniuqe; any wrist rolling behavior will be noted and the subject will be shown how to move the cane without rolling their wrist. (This action is taken now in anticipation of the coverage trials.)

6. Subject (with or without vision) will be shown the MINDFOLD blindfold. The subject will put on the blindfold with a tissue protecting their face and assisted to adjust them to fit comfortably.

7. Subject will put on the wireless headphones and assisted to adjust them to fit comfortably.

8. Subject will walk, guided, the 32 foot-long straight-line course at least once while the procedure is reviewed again.

9. Data collect will be turned on; feedback will be turned off. The subject will walk the course three times to collect pre-feedback data on veering, without the feedback turned on. This should be videotaped and data should be collected.

10. Subject will have the feedback system explained, including the meaning of the feedback terms (terms like “move left”) and feedback chimes.

11. The subjects will be shown the proper amount of adjustment to the left or right when they receive feedback.

12. Subject will be asked if they are ready to try the course.

13. With ascent, the subject will walk the course at least once, with staff behind them, as they listen and respond to the feedback. The staff will advise the subject of errors in responses to feedback. The subject will be encouraged to continue walking forward when he/she hears feedback. The subject will be prompted to move to the left or right in response to feedback. This may be repeated until the subject appears confident and can travel the course alone.

14. Data recording will begin. The subject will walk the course. At the end of the course, the subject will be guided back to the beginning of the course. Staff will ensure that the student is comfortable and will provide encouragement.

15. Subject will walk the course repeatedly until the 30 minutes expire.

16. On the second/final day of testing, the subject will walk the course three final times to collect post-feedback data on veering, without the feedback turned on. This should be videotaped and the data collected.

17. Subject will be told the time of his/her next appointment, if any.

Cane coverage:

1. For the initial trials on Thursday for coverage, the subject will have the goals and procedures of the exercise explained in appropriate language by the staff.

2. Subject will have the feedback system explained, including the meaning of the feedback terms and feedback sounds. Terms like “wider on the right” will be explained.

3. The subject will be shown how to produce an appropriate arc width/coverage by moving their cane laterally between the feet of the staff or mobility specialist, who will stand facing the student with feet placed to demarcate the proper distance. If necessary the subject will practice the arc width movements for a short period of time.

4. Data recoding and feedback will begin, and the subject will remain stationary, moving the cane left/right and adjusting the movements according to the feedback. This may continue through several short practice intervals of just moving the cane and adjusting it to follow the feedback while not walking forward.

5. Subject will be asked if they are ready to try the cane on the course.

6. The subject will walk the course. (We anticipate the veering feedback will not typically be turned on for these trials, so staff or specialist may need to manually, from behind the subject, adjust the subject’s line of travel to remain on the course and under the infrared lighting strip.) At the end of the course, the subject will be guided back to the beginning of the course. Staff will ensure that the student is comfortable and will provide encouragement.

7. Subject will walk the course repeatedly until the 15 minutes expire.

8. The subject will complete the post-testing questionnaire. (Note, if additional personnel are not available, the above schedule will need to be adjusted to included time – approximately 5 minutes – for the post questionnaire.)