DEL+DEL- APP: Promoting Social Inclusion and digital equity for people with neurodevelopmental disorders and elderly people

Luca Vascelli, Silvia Iacomini, Matteo Tondo, Federica Berardo, Francesca Cavallini

Abstract


Background: Social isolation and loneliness are prevalent among people with disabilities and older people. These population segments often face obstacles at the relational level and in accessing digital technologies (Vascelli et al., 2022). DEL+DEL- is an application that facilitates moments of interaction between these two groups to create new digital and relational opportunities supervised by a psychologist.


Methods: This work describes the activities to develop DEL+DEL- in its functional and technical features. First, we assessed the specific characteristics and needs of the two population segments. This evaluation started from the experience already active with traditional videoconferencing platforms and users with similar characteristics supervised by a psychologist. After collecting this information, the developers began the creation of app flows. This process created three main streams: onboarding, participation in a call (with the possibility of asking for help if technical or interaction problems arise), and organization of a new call. Prototype testing was conducted on ten young and ten older people in two phases.


Results: The results obtained during the second phase of the test administration are higher than those obtained during the first one. Test results indicate that the application prototype meets the needs of the targeted population segments. 


Conclusions: When the application is available, we hope it will contribute to replicating the results achieved so far on a national scale. DEL+DEL- could help overcome the limitations of current technological tools, reduce the sense of isolation, and promote psychological well-being, connecting the segments of the population most at risk of social isolation.


 

Full Text:

PDF

References


American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington DC: American Psychiatric Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Ballin, L., & Balandin, S. (2007). An exploration of loneliness: Communication and the social networks of older people with cerebral palsy. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 32(4), 315–326. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668250701689256

Bergström, A. (2017). Digital Equality and the Uptake of Digital Applications among Seniors of Different Age. Nordicom Review, 38(s1), 79–91. https://doi.org/10.1515/nor-2017-0398

Chuang, Y.-C., Chuang, K.-Y., & Yang, T.-H. (2013). Social cohesion matters in health. International Journal for Equity in Health, 12(1), 87. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-9276-12-87

Courtin, E., & Knapp, M. (2017). Social isolation, loneliness and health in old age: A scoping review. Health & Social Care in the Community, 25(3), 799–812. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12311

Coyle, C. E., & Dugan, E. (2012). Social Isolation, Loneliness and Health Among Older Adults. Journal of Aging and Health, 24(8), 1346–1363. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264312460275

Goggin, G., Ellis, K., & Hawkins, W. (2019). Disability at the centre of digital inclusion: Assessing a new moment in technology and rights. Communication Research and Practice, 5(3), 290–303. https://doi.org/10.1080/22041451.2019.1641061

Green, C., Dickinson, H., Carey, G., & Joyce, A. (2022). Barriers to policy action on social determinants of health for people with disability in Australia. Disability & Society, 37(2), 206–230. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599.2020.1815523

Grenade, L., & Boldy, D. (2008). Social isolation and loneliness among older people: Issues and future challenges in community and residential settings. Australian Health Review, 32(3), 468. https://doi.org/10.1071/AH080468

Iacomini, S., Berardo, F., Cavallini, F., & Dipace, A. (2021). Assessment tools for the career planning of adolescents and adults with neurodevelopmental disorders: a systematic review. Journal of Clinical & Developmental Psychology, 3(3), 34-55. https://doi.org/10.13129/2612-4033/0110-3200

Leahy, F., Ridout, N., Mushtaq, F., & Holland, C. (2018). Improving specific autobiographical memory in older adults: impacts on mood, social problem solving, and functional limitations. Aging, Neuropsychology, and Cognition, 25(5), 695-723. https://doi.org/10.1080/13825585.2017.1365815

McVilly, K. R., Stancliffe, R. J., Parmenter, T. R., & Burton-Smith, R. M. (2006). “I Get by with a Little Help from my Friends”: Adults with Intellectual Disability Discuss Loneliness1. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 19(2), 191–203. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3148.2005.00261.x

Oberndorfer, M., Dorner, T. E., Leyland, A. H., Grabovac, I., Schober, T., Šramek, L., & Bilger, M. (2022). The challenges of measuring social cohesion in public health research: A systematic review and ecometric meta-analysis. SSM - Population Health, 17, 101028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101028

Robinson, L., Cotten, S. R., Ono, H., Quan-Haase, A., Mesch, G., Chen, W., Schulz, J., Hale, T. M., & Stern, M. J. (2015). Digital inequalities and why they matter. Information, Communication & Society, 18(5), 569–582. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2015.1012532

Schiefer, D., & van der Noll, J. (2017). The Essentials of Social Cohesion: A Literature Review. Social Indicators Research, 132(2), 579–603. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-016-1314-5

Vascelli, L., Berardo, F., Iacomini, S., Scorza, M., & Cavallini, F. (2023). Effects of textual prompting and constant time delay on social communication skills of young adults with Prader Willi syndrome during online socialisation activities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 36(2), 259-269. https://doi.org/10.1111/jar.13052




DOI: https://doi.org/10.13129/2612-4033/0110-3981

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.