# A Technology-Aided Program to Help People With Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities Access Leisure Stimuli and Engage in Cognitive and Physical Activity: Development and Usability Study

## TL;DR

A new touch-screen program helps people with intellectual and multiple disabilities access entertainment and perform cognitive and physical activities independently.

## Contribution

A novel touch-screen program was developed and tested to support leisure access and activity engagement for individuals with intellectual and multiple disabilities.

## Key findings

- Participants accessed preferred stimuli independently at nearly 100% accuracy with the new program.
- Correct cognitive and physical activity performance reached 90-100% with the modified touch-screen program.
- Baseline performance was 0% without the new program, showing significant improvement during intervention.

## Abstract

People with moderate to severe intellectual disability can have difficulties accessing leisure stimuli and engaging in basic cognitive and physical activity independently. These difficulties may be even more marked in individuals with a combination of intellectual disability and sensory or sensory-motor impairments.

This study assessed a new program relying on touch screen technology, which was set up to support access to leisure stimuli and the performance of a simple form of cognitive activity and basic physical exercise for adults with intellectual or intellectual and hearing disabilities, lack of functional speech, and poor motor dexterity.

The program alternated access to preferred stimuli (ie, songs, comic sketches, or cartoons) with cognitive activity (ie, matching-to-sample tasks) and physical exercise (ie, body movements). The touch screen technology was modified to ensure that people with poor motor dexterity would be effective in their responding regardless of the accuracy of their responses. The program was implemented with 7 participants. Its impact was assessed through the use of single-case research methodology.

During the baseline (when standard technology was used), the mean percentage of songs, comic sketches, or cartoons accessed; match-to-sample responses provided; and body movements performed correctly and independent of research assistants’ help was 0% for all participants with a single exception. During the intervention (when the new program with modified touch screen technology was used), the participants’ mean percentage of songs, comic sketches, or cartoons accessed correctly and independent of research assistants’ help per session was virtually 100%. Their mean percentage for correct match-to-sample responses provided and correct body movements performed independent of research assistants’ help was within the 90% to 100% range.

The findings suggest that the program may constitute a useful tool for helping people with intellectual and multiple disabilities access leisure stimuli and engage in cognitive and physical activity.