WayFinder: Cognitive Aid for Independent Transportation

长期以来，交通和移动一直是智力残疾（如智力迟钝）患者非常依赖的领域。很少有智障人士获得驾驶执照。其他典型的交通方式，如出租车服务，由于成本问题是令人望而却步的。这一人口的主要交通方式仍然是：1)学校或服务机构提供的专门交通服务；2)公共交通（即公共汽车）系统。专业服务通常是分开的，通常对目的地有限制，需要提前预订。公共交通系统为更加独立和综合的交通提供了机会。然而，为智障人士使用交通系统存在许多固有障碍。拟议的项目是开发和评估WayFinder，这是一种便携式系统，将掌上电脑、全球定位系统和即时通讯技术集成在简化的多媒体应用程序中，提供智能音频和视觉提示，帮助智障人士在公共交通系统中独立导航。拟议的第一/第二阶段项目的目标是开发一个独立可用的系统，以增强智障人士获得基于社区的卫生相关资源的机会。第一阶段的具体目标是开发系统的需求，设计和构建软件原型，并使用完整的受试者之间重复测量设计进行试点研究，以评估系统在提高公共交通导航独立性和自我导向方面的效用。在第二阶段，原型系统将被开发成一个功能齐全的软件/硬件系统，用于实地研究，以确定长期使用WAYFINDER系统对运输支持需求和自决的影响。实地研究将采用随机安慰剂对照组设计。其假设是，该系统将显著提高人们在公共交通系统中的独立性，从而减少对家庭、工作人员和其他照顾者的依赖。其影响包括增加了自主和独立行动的机会，改善了智力残疾者获得医疗、治疗、保健、娱乐、营养、工作机会和其他资源等保健相关服务的机会。WayFinder对学校、服务机构、智障人士及其家庭具有商业潜力。使个人能够独立使用公共交通将增加工作机会并降低与交通援助相关的成本。这个项目将产生WayFinder，这是一个低成本、功能强大的系统，它将使有认知障碍的人能够独立地使用公共交通系统。这与公共卫生有关，因为它使目前依赖他人来满足这些交通需求的一部分美国人口能够更多地获得医疗、治疗、健康、娱乐和其他基于社区的卫生干预措施。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): WAYFINDER: A Cognitive Aid for Independent Transportation ABSTRACT Transportation and mobility have long been areas of great dependency for individuals with intellectual disabilities, such as mental retardation. Few individuals with intellectual disabilities obtain drivers licenses. Other typical modes of transit, such as taxi service, are prohibitive due to cost issues. The dominant modes of transportation for this population continue to be 1) specialized transportation services provided by schools or service agencies, and 2) public transit (i.e., bus) systems. Specialized services are usually segregated and often pose restrictions on destinations and require advanced reservations. Public transit systems present an opportunity for more independent and integrated transportation. However, there are many inherent barriers to using transit systems for people with intellectual disabilities. The proposed project is to develop and evaluate WayFinder, a portable system that integrates Palmtop computers, global positioning systems, and instant messaging technology in a simplified multimedia application to provide intelligent audio and visual cues to facilitate independent navigation of public transit systems by individuals with intellectual disabilities. This goal of the proposed Phase I/Phase II project is to develop an independently usable system to enhance access to community based health related resources for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Specific aims in Phase I are to develop requirements for the system, design and build a software prototype, and conduct a pilot study using a complete between- subjects repeated measures design to evaluate the utility of the system for improving independence and self-direction in public transit navigation. In Phase II, the prototype system will be developed into a fully functional software/hardware system that will be used in a field study to determine the impact of longer term use of the WAYFINDER system on transportation supports needs and self-determination. The field study will employ a randomized, placebo control group design. The hypothesis is that the system will significantly increase independence in navigating public transit systems and therefore decrease dependency on family, staff and other caregivers. Implications include increased opportunities for self-direction and independent mobility, improved access to health related services including medical, therapeutic, wellness, recreation, nutrition, work opportunities and other resources for individuals with intellectual disabilities. WayFinder has commercial potential for schools, service agencies and individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families. Enabling individuals to independently use public transit will increase work opportunities and decrease costs associated with transportation assistance. This project will result in WayFinder, a low-cost, powerful system that will enable individuals with cognitive disabilties to be able to use public transit systems in an independent manner. This is relevant to the public health by enabling greater access to medical, therapeutic, wellness, recreation and other community based health interventions for a segment of the American population that is currently dependent upon others to meet these transportation needs.