Libby Kumin

Computer Usage by Children with Down Syndrome: Challenges and Future Research

Children with Down syndrome, like neurotypical children, are growing up with extensive exposure to computer technology. Computers and computer-related devices have the potential to help these children in education, career development, and independent living. Our understanding of computer usage by this population is quite limited. Most of the software, games, and Web sites that children with Down syndrome interact with are designed without consideration of their special needs, making the applications less effective or completely inaccessible. We conducted a large-scale survey that collected computer usage information from the parents of approximately six hundred children with Down syndrome. This article reports the text responses collected in the survey and is intended as a step towards understanding the difficulties children with Down syndrome experience while using computers. The relationship between the age and the specific type of difficulties, as well as related design challenges are also reported. A number of potential research directions and hypotheses are identified for future studies. Due to limitations in survey methodology, the findings need to be further validated through hypothesis-driven, empirical studies.

Computer usage by young individuals with down syndrome: an exploratory study

In this paper, we discuss the results of an online survey that investigates how children and young adults with Down syndrome use computers and computer-related devices. The survey responses cover 561 individuals with Down syndrome between the age of four to 21. The survey results suggest that the majority of the children and young adults with Down syndrome can use the mouse to interact with computers, which requires spatial, cognitive, and fine motor skills that were previously believed to be quite challenging for individuals with Down syndrome. The results show great difficulty in text entry using keyboards. Young individuals with Down syndrome are using a variety of computer applications and computer related devices, and computers and computer-related devices play important roles in the life of individuals with Down syndrome. There appears to be great potential in computer-related education and training to broaden existing career opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome, and there needs to be further research on this topic.

A longitudinal study of the emergence of phonemes in children with down syndrome

Articulation norms are typically used to measure sound acquisition and mastery in children with Down syndrome. The present longitudinal study examines the clinical records of 60 children with Down syndrome to evaluate phoneme acquisition and emergence. Results document the order of emergence of sounds in children with Down syndrome. Factors affecting emergence of sounds (e.g. oral motor skills) and difficulties in using a mastery model to evaluate speech sound acquisition in children with Down syndrome are explored. Clinical as well as research implications of the data are presented.

Speech and language skills in children with Down syndrome

This article presents state-of-the art information on speech and language development and skills in infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents with Down syndrome. Research is cited in the areas of early speech and language development, receptive and expressive language, auditory and visual reception, processing and integration as they relate to language learning, semantics, syntax, morphology, pragmatics, and social interactive language. Research is also reviewed on oral motor strength and coordination, as well as oral-motor planning as they relate to articulation, phonology, and intelligibility. Strengths and challenges, assessment, and intervention research are discussed in relation to each speech and language area.

Investigating input technologies for children and young adults with Down syndrome

Using computers as an assistive technology for people with various types of physical and perceptual disabilities has been studied extensively. However, research on computer technology used by individuals with Down syndrome is limited. This paper reports an empirical study that investigated the use of three input techniques (keyboard and mouse, word prediction, and speech recognition) by children and young adults with Down syndrome and neurotypical children. The results suggest that the performance of the Down syndrome participants vary substantially. The high performing Down syndrome participants are capable of using the keyboard or the word prediction software to generate text at approximately 6 words per minute with error rates below 5%, which is similar to the performance of the younger neurotypical participants. No significant difference was observed between the keyboard condition and the word prediction condition. Recognition error rate observed under the speech input condition is very high for the Down syndrome participants. The neurotypical children achieved better performance than the participants with Down syndrome on the input tasks and demonstrated different preferences when interacting with the input techniques. Limitations of this study and implications for future research are also discussed.

Investigating User Behavior for Authentication Methods: A Comparison between Individuals with Down Syndrome and Neurotypical Users

A wide variety of authentication mechanisms have been designed to ensure information security. Individuals with cognitive disabilities depend on computers and the Internet for a variety of tasks and, therefore, use authentication applications on an everyday basis. However, although there have been numerous studies investigating password usage by neurotypical users, there have been no research studies conducted to examine the use of authentication methods by individuals with cognitive disabilities. In this article, we systematically investigate how individuals with cognitive disabilities, specifically Down syndrome (DS), interact with various user authentication mechanisms. This research provides the first benchmark data on the performance of individuals with DS when using multiple authentication methods. It confirms that individuals with DS are capable of using the traditional alphanumeric passwords with reasonable efficiency. The passwords created by individuals with DS are of similar strength to those created by neurotypical people. Graphic passwords are not as effective as traditional alphanumeric and mnemonic passwords regarding efficiency, and are less preferred by the participants. Based on the findings of the study, we propose design guidelines that aim to assist both practitioners and researchers in designing and developing effective authentication applications that fit the specific needs of individuals with DS.

Learning Disabilities Existing Concomitantly with Communication Disorder

This article describes the characteristics of language disorders that occur with learning disabilities. In this context, formal and naturalistic language, including specific standardized test batteries and curriculum-based language assessment, portfolio assessment, and others, are discussed. In addition, service delivery models and interventions that focus on the enhancement of semantic, syntactic, and pragmatic development are presented. Finally, future directions for research in the area of learning disabilities and secondary language disorders are suggested. Intervention strategies, including supportive scaffolding, whole language, and collaborative consultation, are reviewed; and implications for language assessment, intervention, and future research are discussed.

Employment in Adults with Down Syndrome in the United States: Results from a National Survey.

BACKGROUND There is no current data about employment/unemployment of adults with Down syndrome in the United States. The data that exists includes adults with Down syndrome as part of the larger group of people with disabilities or people with intellectual disability. METHOD This study used a survey to investigate paid and volunteer employment, unemployment, types of jobs, job training, job settings, job schedules and job satisfaction in adults with Down syndrome. There were 511 survey responses received. RESULTS Findings were that there is high unemployment for adults with Down syndrome and that current employment is in a limited number of fields, primarily in the areas of food, janitorial work, landscaping, and office work. A small percentage of respondents have full time paid employment. A combination of part time paid employment and unpaid volunteer work is typical. CONCLUSIONS Implications for educators, counselors, legislators and employers are discussed.

Investigating authentication methods used by individuals with down syndrome

Although there have been numerous studies investigating password usage by neurotypical users, a paucity of research has been conducted to examine the use of authentication methods used by individuals with cognitive impairment. In this paper, we report a longitudinal study that investigates how individuals with Down syndrome interact with three user authentication mechanisms. It confirms that many individuals with DS are capable of using traditional alphanumeric passwords as well as learning other authentication methods. Contrary to previous belief, the result suggests that mnemonic passwords may not be easier to remember for individuals with DS during initial usage.

Expanding job options: potential computer-related employment for adults with Down syndrome

There is currently an emerging body of human-computer interaction research on computer skills in children and adults with Down syndrome, which so far seems to conflict with the assumptions based on the medical/clinical literature. Based on the medical/clinical literature, it would seem that the documented sensory and motor issues in children with Down syndrome would lead to difficulty with computer usage. Yet the research literature emerging from the human-computer interaction community indicates that many children and adults with Down syndrome can effectively use computers at an intermediate or advanced level. In the past, computer skills have not been considered as a potential job skill for adults with Down syndrome. This article discusses the existing literature on computer use and skills in people with Down syndrome, the existing environment of employment for adults with Down syndrome, and potential computer-related job categories for adults with Down syndrome.