Using Telecommunications Technology to Instruct Rural Severely Handicapped Children

Abstract

A prototype telecommunications project designed to bring home instruction to severely handicapped preschool children in remote and isolated areas is described. The project demonstrated that a minicomputer control system could serve a large number of families simultaneously. Reliable telephonic data transmission between computer and home based teaching machines was achieved, families accepted the placement of equipment in their homes, and children interacted with automated devices on a daily basis. The feasibility of large scale service delivery through a similar system is discussed.