The Effects of Combining Modified ride-on Cars With Bimanual Training on Enhancing Mobility, Socialization, Motor Function and Participation in Toddlers With Disabilities

The car driving training includes 2 phases: I-car exploration and II-prompted driving. Participants can learn how to move and stop the car in the car exploration phase. Through prompted driving in phase II, they can use the car as a mean to explore environments (e.g., to the elevator, to different stores) and contact with people (e.g., drive to the caregiver and get the toy). Bimanual training involves activities which include perceptual motor tasks (e.g., smear both hands with color), holding and manipulative tasks (e.g., cutting toy vegetables or fruits), posture and balance (e.g., pull a cart), and self-care and activities of daily living (e.g., drinking water from a cup with two handles).

Most of the guidelines are similar with ROCBT, except for the bimanual training. The therapist and family will merely focus on independent mobility training and improving socialization. The training time and period is the same as ROCBT.

The regular therapy group will continue the regular therapy, including physical, occupational and speech therapy. The general propose of the training is to improve the developmental scales, mobility, socialization and upper limb use in functional tasks. The research team will videotape the child's natural play and driving performance at the hospital for 1 hour/per session, 1 session/per week during the 9-week intervention phase.