Strengthening Participatory Action Research Approach to Develop a Personalized Mobile Application for Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

Participation in social inclusion activities has been reported to be an important determinant of health for people with disabilities and has a number of benefits particularly for young adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). However, young adults with ID often have difficulty making friends and are excluded from taking part in social activities in society, therefore they struggle to sustain friendships over time. This paper reports on a study that investigates how a mobile application can help young adults with ID make friends, build social relationships and participate successfully within their communities. Using a participatory research design, we developed a prototype of a mobile app to introduce social inclusion activities for young adults with ID. Parents, service providers, staff and young adults with ID provided input on features of the prototype. To evaluate the impact of the mobile app, pre- and post-intervention measures will be collected. This experiential opportunity will encourage young adults with ID with self-determination when they interact with others but more importantly, give a sense of independence when they engage in real-world social environments.