1 FEASABILITY OF A MOBILE ROBOT WITH ALTERNATIVE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A CHILD WITH CEREBRAL PALSY Carole W. Dennis, OT, ScD, Sharon Stansfield, PhD, and Hélène M. Larin, PT, PhD Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 14850 INTRODUCTION Independent mobility is very important in the development of typical infants, as it allows the acquisition of a broad range of skills across multiple domains. Positive changes in aspects of development have been documented in children with significant disabilities when provided with powered mobility [1,2,3]. RESNA approved a position paper in 2008 encouraging clinicians to provide early powered mobility ) to appropriate children, however, electric wheelchairs are costly, impose safety risks, and traditionally have not been recommended for children until they are at least 24 to 36 months of age [4,5]. Additionally, clinicians find that many individuals who need powered mobility are unable to use existing control systems due to problems with strength, coordination, and visual acuity. The purpose of this case report is to describe the development of a safe robotic mobility device with an alternative control system designed for a three year old child with significant motor impairment. BACKGROUND In typically-developing infants, the initiation of independent locomotion heralds concomitant development in aspects of communicative, emotional, perceptual, cognitive, and social behavior [6,7]. With the onset of infant locomotion, parents’ expectations and behaviors toward their infants also change [8], resulting in alterations of the social environment of the infant. Cortical changes in the brain are also affected by the experiential opportunities that independent mobility affords [9]. While it is not known to what degree the physical dimensions of crawling and walking, or the experiences of perceiving the world from a different and mobile perspective, or some other phenomena are responsible for these developmental transformations, nonetheless they highlight the interconnectivity of the brain, behavior, and the environment. Children with physical disabilities and restricted mobility have limited opportunities for exploration and socialization, and limited opportunities to exert control over their environment. In addition, they have been found to demonstrate increased dependence, apathy, lack of curiosity, frustration, depressed motivation, and a lack of confidence [1]. Researchers have reported that when children with disabilities have received powered mobility, they have achieved increased independent movement, greater environmental interaction, a more positive affect, increased motivation, more confidence, increased social contact, and improved communication [1,2,3]. Many therapists and researchers believe that young children with disabilities should be considered for receiving powered mobility as early as is feasible. However, authors of a survey of clinicians [10] estimated that up to 26 percent of the clinicians’ clients who desired powered mobility were unable to use existing control systems. Estimation of wheelchair users who would benefit from at least some of the time from a ―smart wheelchair‖ (a mobile robot base with an attached seat, or standard electric wheelchair with an added computer; they may include alternative controls and/or sensors) ranged from 61 to 91 percent [11]. In the case of cerebral palsy, the most common cause of motor disability in children, the estimation ranges from 70 to 90 percent. Descriptions of provision of smart wheelchairs systems for children are very limited in the literature. Proceedings of the FICCDAT RESNA Conference Toronto, ON, Canada June 6-8, 2011.