Objectives: The Vocational Training Facility (VTF) Project became a funded 3-year Merit Review Project on January 1, 1991, and was officially extended for 6 months, from January 1, 1994 - June 30, 1994. The goal of the VTF Project was to develop and test a novel curriculum concept to train students with high-level quadriplegia vocational skills in desktop publishing. These skills were taught in a workstation setting, using adaptive access equipment and devices, including a voice-controlled robot for manipulation assistance.
Research Plan: The VTF Project included the implementation of three robot-equipped workstations. Each workstation provided multimedia presentation of curriculum materials to teach skills for entry-level positions in desktop publishing and presentation. Videodisc materials supplemented instructional software to provide an accessible, integrated learning environment. Four-month training sessions accommodated three students at a time. Sixteen students were tested in total. In addition to conventional batteries of test instruments, software records of computer usage and robot actions have permitted subsequent analysis of the effectiveness of the VTF concept.
Methodology: The workstations were equipped with a variety of interface devices for individualized access by students with quadriplegia. In addition, the robot was able to perform all needed daily-living (e.g., lunch, beverages, medication) and vocational support (e.g., printer output, mouthstick, phone) tasks while the student was at the workstation. With these supports, as well as the multimedia curriculum design, each student was able to perform self-paced learning of vocational skills. The VTF Project tested this approach in a study including high-level and low-level quadriplegic veterans as well as a control group of paraplegic students.
Results: In the first 18 months, the VTF Project completed the procurement process for hardware, software, and training materials; configured and programmed three robot workstations for the set of VTF equipment; contacted local companies for Task Force involvement and internship placement; wrote the core instructional software necessary for the curriculum; completed the editing and pressing of three DTP videodiscs; and prepared materials for and worked with the VA Spinal Cord Injury Service and the California State Department of Rehabilitation to identify prospective disabled veterans.
In the remaining 24 months, a total of 16 students were recruited. The outcome "success" of the project was defined as the ability to participate in the 12-week course, complete an internship, and pursue a job opportunity. Of the 16, two did not complete the course due to medical reasons. Seven completed one or more internships. Currently, seven of the 16 are engaged in follow-on education or gainful employment (either following the internship phase or directly after the VTF training), while six are actively pursuing educational, internship or job opportunities.
To date, the VTF Project has resulted in two journal articles and four conference presentations, and has benefited from the doctoral work of two students. The technology transfer of the curriculum to an educational institution is an ongoing VA activity.
Publications:
J. Hammel, H.F.M. Van der Loos, P. LePage, C. Burgar, I. Perkash, D. Shafer, E. Topp, D.S. Lees, The Vocational Training Facility: An Interactive Learning Program to Return Persons with Physical Disabilities to Employment. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation,Vol 4, No. 2, October, 1994, pp. 270-277.
H.F.M. Van der Loos, VA/Stanford Rehabilitation Robotics Research and Development Program: Lessons Learned in the Application of Robotics Technology to the Field of Rehabilitation. IEEE Trans. Rehabilitation Engineering, vol. 3, no. 1, March, 1995 (in press)
H.F.M. Van der Loos, Joy Hammel, Larry J. Leifer, DeVAR transfer from R&D to vocational and educational settings. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics, Wilmington, DE, June 14-16, 1994, pp. 151-156.
H.F.M. Van der Loos, J. Hammel, Use of a rehabilitation robot in a classroom setting. Proceedings RESNA'94, Nashville, TN, June, 1994, pp. 442-444.
H.F.M. Van der Loos, "Use of a Desktop Robot in a Vocational Training Program." University of Delaware sponsored Workshop entitled "Educational and Vocational Uses of Rehabilitative Robots", Wilmington, DE, June, 1994.
D. Shafer, J. Hammel, A comparison of computer access devices for persons with high level spinal cord injuries. Proceedings RESNA'94, Nashville, TN, June, 1994, pp. 394-396.