Vest gives people with special needs a "portable hug"

Children with autism and ADHD may soon get anxiety relief from a novel “deep-pressure” vest developed by Brian Mullen at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Massachusetts Amherst)

A high-tech vest developed by a University of Massachusetts, Amherst, engineer may help therapists deliver constant deep-pressure touch stimulation that may help people with some disabilities relax and focus better. "People with developmental disorders and mental illness are often overwhelmed in everyday environments such as school and the workplace," says Brian Mullen, a mechanical engineering graduate student. "This is an alternative therapy that can safely and discreetly provide the treatment they need." ScienceDaily