ATM-SIM: APPLICATION OF COMPUTER SIMULATION TO TEACH BASIC LIVING SKILLS TO INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION

THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL DEMONSTRATE THE APPLICATION OF COMPUTER SIMULATION FOR TEACHING A SPECIFIC INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILL TO INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION. LONG-TERM OBJECTIVESARE TO DEVELOP A COMPUTER-BASED TRAINER (ATM-SIM) TO BE USED FOR TEACHING INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION HOW TO USE AUTOMATED TELLER MACHINES. ATM-SIM IS A SKILL-TRAINING PRODUCT THAT WILL SUPPLEMENT THE FUNCTIONAL,COGNITIVE AND ADAPTIVE ABILITIES OF INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTALRETARDATION IN THE AREA OF ACCESS TO PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNTS. SPECIFIC AIMS FOR PHASE I INCLUDEDEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A PROTOTYPE ATM TRAINER. THE PROTOTYPE DESIGN WILL BE BASED ON FUNCTIONAL AND USER INTERFACE REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED THROUGH INTERVIEWS WITH LIVING SKILLS INSTRUCTORS. THE PROTOTYPE WILL BE EVALUATED VIA A PILOT STUDY COMPARING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ATM TRAINER TO TRADITIONAL TRAINING METHODS.