A tablet-based program to enable people with intellectual and other disabilities to access leisure activities and video calls

• Published in: Disability and rehabilitation: Assistive technology 2020-01, Vol.15 (1), p.14-20
• Main Authors: Lancioni, Giulio E., Singh, Nirbhay N., O'Reilly, Mark F., Sigafoos, Jeff, Alberti, Gloria, Perilli, Viviana, Chiariello, Valeria, Grillo, Giovanna, Turi, Cosimo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Access; Communication; Intellectual disabilities; intellectual disability; Learning disabled people; Leisure; Multimedia; Proximity; Recreation; Rehabilitation; Sensors; tablet; video calls; Video teleconferencing
• ISSN: 1748-3107; 1748-3115
• DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2018.1508515

Purpose: This study evaluated a tablet-based program to help eight participants with moderate intellectual disability, sensory and/or motor impairments, and lack of expressive or expressive and receptive verbal skills to select and access leisure activities and video calls independently. Methods: The program relied on the use of a tablet (i.e., Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 LTE) with 8-inch screen, Android 6.0 Operating System, front camera, proximity sensor and multimedia player. The tablet was fitted with a SIM card and two specific applications, that is, WhatsApp Messenger for making video calls and MacroDroid for automating the tablet's functioning in accordance with the program conditions. The tablet presented pictures concerning leisure activities and preferred partners for video calls. The participant could select any activity or partner by touching (or nearing his or her hand to) the tablet's proximity sensor. Results: During the baseline (i.e., without the program), the participants failed to access leisure activities or video calls. During the post-intervention phase (i.e., with the program), they selected and accessed those activities and calls independently and spent between about 75% and 90% of the session time engaging with them. Conclusion: The tablet-based program can be highly beneficial for people like the participants of this study. Implications for rehabilitation A technology-aided program may enable persons with intellectual and other disabilities to independently access leisure activities and communication with distant partners. The program may involve the use of video calls to allow communication to participants with limited or no verbal skills. The program may be realized using a tablet (a) including Android 6.0 Operating System, proximity sensor, and multimedia player, and (b) fitted with a SIM card and applications such as WhatsApp Messenger and MacroDroid. The program may be easily adapted to the participants' characteristics in terms of activities available and partners to reach.