Does assistive technology contribute to social inclusion for people with intellectual disability? A systematic review protocol

Abstract

IntroductionThe aim of this review is to answer the following question: Does assistive technology contribute to social inclusion for people with intellectual disability? Previous research on assistive technology has focused on socioeconomic impacts such as education, employment and access to healthcare by people with intellectual disability. There is a need to consolidate evidence on the interaction between intellectual disability, assistive technology, community living and social inclusion.Methods and analysisThe review will consider studies from all settings: geographical, socioeconomic and care (institutional and community care), published in English. Studies reported in other languages with abstracts in English will be included if they can be translated using Google Translate, otherwise such studies will be included in the appendix. The review will include both qualitative and quantitative studies. The intervention in this review refers to the use of assistive technology to promote community participation or interpersonal relationships (social inclusion) for people with intellectual disability. The outcomes will be behavioural and social benefits of using assistive technology by people with intellectual disability. Enhanced interpersonal relationships and community participation by people with intellectual disability. Data analysis will be in two phases. The first phase will involve analysis of individual study designs separately. The second phase will be narrative/thematic synthesis of all study groups.EthicsThe review will not create any ethical or safety concerns.DisseminationAt least one peer-reviewed article in a leading journal such as the BMJ is planned. The findings will also be disseminated through a seminar session involving internal audience at Trinity College Dublin and within the Assistive Technologies for people with Intellectual Disability and Autism research programme.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017065447; Pre-results.

Barriers and Facilitators That Influence Social Participation in Older Adults With Dual Sensory Impairment

“…Nevertheless, our study highlights that assistive technology can be effective to improve social participation as reported by others (Hersh, 2013;Eurpoean Parliamentary Research Services, 2015;Wittich et al, 2016b;Owuor et al, 2018;Perfect et al, 2018), but how much effort has been invested in research to develop assistive technologies catering to the unique needs of older adults with DSI remains a relevant question globally (Wittich et al, 2016a). Even the work of the World Health Organization on assistive technology misses to recognize the unique aspect of DSI and the need for a distinct set of assistive technologies for this subgroup of older adults with DSI (World Health Organization, 2010.…”

Social participation of people with chronic wounds: A systematic review

“…Keywords on chronic wounds were based on search strings used by other systematic reviews on this indication 42,44‐46 and were discussed with a dermatologist (NK). Keywords on social participation were based on concepts covered in the model of social participation 16 and systematic reviews about aspects of social participation 42,47‐49 . In collaboration with a librarian, the search string was finalised to be applicable in various databases.…”

“…Keywords on social participation were based on concepts covered in the model of social participation 16 and systematic reviews about aspects of social participation. 42,[47][48][49] In collaboration with a librarian, the search string was finalised to be applicable in various databases. The search string as used in MEDLINE (PubMed) is displayed in Appendix 1.…”

A Possible Framework for the Design of Learning Programs in Assistive Technology for People with Intellectual Disabilities in Inclusive Educational Environments

“…There is a broad consensus worldwide about the benefits that people with ID can receive through the appropriate use of evolving information and communication technologies [35]. This debate includes also how to stimulate the advancement in the acquisition of knowledge and competence for using AT by people with ID.…”