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IROMEC for children with developmental disabilities
Summary
Play Experience by Assistive Technology for play
Devices, services & contexts for play with children with disabilities
Name of Play Experience by AT
IROMEC for children with developmental disabilities
Type of project
Intervention
Finished research project
Ongoing research project
Summary
(~150 words: target group, aims, kind of activities, Play Experience by AT (devices, services and contexts) used, play experiences and results)
IROMEC is a robot to support play in impaired children. In this study the short-term effects of the IROMEC robot in an occupational therapy intervention for children with developmental disabilities are evaluated.
Play Experience by Assistive technology
Low-tech, high-tech products, services and contexts for play
Description, intended use(s), intended target group(s), manufacturer/developer, reference
IROMEC play robot developed within the European project IROMEC, cofounded by the European Commision within the 6th Framework Program. Modular and configurable robotic platform that can be used within therapy and education. Specifically developed for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, severe motor impaired children and children with mild mental disabilities.
Picture
Download
Context
The context of use
(home, school, rehab center or other environments)
Occupational therapy, children with developmental disabilities aged 3-5 years
Type of Play
Type of play in this play system
LUDI Classification of types of play
Cognitive Dimension
Practice
Symbolic
Constructive
Rule play (including videogames)
Social Dimension
Solitary
Parallel
Associative
Cooperative
Objectives
Objectives related to play according to ICF-CY
International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health - Children & Youth Version (ICF-CY)
Play for the sake of play
Major life areas - d880 engagement in play
d8800 solitary play
d8801 onlooker play
d8802 parallel play
d8803 shared cooperative play
d8808 engagement in play, other specified
d8809 engagement in play, unspecified
Community social and civic life - d920 recreation and leisure time
d9200 play
Play-like activities
Therapeutic and educational objectives
b1 Mental functions
b2 Sensory functions and pain
b3 Voice and speech functions
b4 Functions of cardiovascular, hematological, immunological and respiratory systems
b5 Functions of digestive, metabolic and endocrine systems
b7 Neuromusculoskeletal and movement related functions
d1 Learning and applying knowledge (learning through symbolic play, learning through pretend play)
d2 General tasks and demands
d3 Communication
d4 Mobility
d7 Interpersonal interactions and relationships
Participant
Participant(s)
Number
1-5
5-10
10-20
>20
Chronological Age
0-3 years
3-6 years
6-12 years
12-18 years
Development Age
0-3 years
3-6 years
6-12 years
12-18 years
LUDI Categories of disabilities
Mental/intellectual impairments:
mild
moderate
severe
profound
Hearing impairments
Partially hearing impaired
Deaf
Visual impairments
Partially sighted
Blind
Communication disorders (speech and language disorders)
Physical impairments
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Multiple disabilities
Explanation
Explanation on the use of low-tech, high-tech devices, services or contexts
Explanation
No instruction, self-discovery of the participant/subject
Verbal instruction, language and communication fitting to chronological age
Verbal instruction, language and communication is adapted
Visual and/or verbal instruction with AAC (Aumentative and Alternative Communication)
Visual instruction with written language
Visual instruction with pictures or drawings
Modeling by therapist/researcher
Hand over hand: therapist/researcher leads the actions of the participant
Prompting: therapist/researcher touches the participant as a key for further actions
Guided discovery: therapist/researcher coaches the participant so s/he discovers how to use the assistive technology
Modeling by peer
Visual instruction by peer
Verbal instruction by peer
Involvement
Adult: therapist/educator/researcher
Parent or significant others
Peer with disabilities
Peer without disabilities
Role
Non-participatory observer
Participatory observer
Providing instruction
After the instruction, providing supervision during play
Evaluation
Evaluation of objectives and outcome measures
Description of outcome measure(s)
Observation by professional/researcher providing the play experience
Observation by other professional/researcher
Video analysis
Feedback from client/parents/professionals
(validated and reliable) outcome measures like tests, self-reports of client/system, questionnaires
Information about availability of outcome measure: publisher, website, contact person
- Parham, L.D. & Fazio, L.S. (2008) Play in occupational Therapy for Children. (2nd ed.) St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier - E. Ferrari, B. Robins, and K. Dautenhahn (2010) "Does it work?" A framework to evaluate the effectiveness of a robotic toy for children with special needs. Preoceedings IEEE ROMAN 2010, 19th International Symposium in Robot and Human Interactive Communication, Sep. 12-15th, 2010, Viareggio, Italy
Achievements
Summary of achieved effects
Results confirmed the IROMEC robot did partly meet the needs of the children and the therapists, and positive impact on ToP results was found with two children. This suggests robotic toys can support children with developmental disabilities in enriching play. Long term effect evaluation should verify these positive indications resulting from use of this innovative social robot for children with developmental disabilities. It also became clear further development of the robot is required.
References
References to the intervention or research project
Contact Person
renee.vandenheuvel@zuyd.nl
Website
www.technologyincare.nl
Publication
Bernd, T., Gelderblom, G. J., Vanstipelen, S., & De Witte, L. (2010). Short term effect evaluation of IROMEC involved therapy for children with intellectual disabilities Social Robotics (pp. 259-264): Springer.
Keywords
Keywords
Example: Robots, Virtual Games, Mobile Phone, Public Playground, Adapted Toys
IROMEC, effects, play robot, therapy, developmental disabilities.
Play Systems with similar keywords
Early stimulation through play. Guidelines for the design of toys for use in therapy
Nebula - Interactive wall of light
Other
Additional information
This project finished in 2011. Currently Zuyd University of Applied Science started a new project 'Social robots in care' in which the IROMEC robot will be used to support play within therapy and education for children with severe physical disabilities.
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