Robots supporting play for children with physical disabilities: Exploring the potential of IROMEC

Article type: Research Article

Authors: van den Heuvel, Renée J.F.^{a; b; *} | Lexis, Monique A.S.^a | Janssens, Rianne M.L.^{a; c} | Marti, Patrizia^{d; e} | de Witte, Luc P.^{a; b}

Affiliations: [a] Research Centre for Technology in Care, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Heerlen, The Netherlands | [b] CAPHRI, School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands | [c] Faculty of Health, Department of Occupational Therapy, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Heerlen, The Netherlands | [d] Department of Social, Political and Cognitive Science, University of Siena, Siena, Italy | [e] Department of Industrial Design, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Renée J.F. van den Heuvel, Research Centre for Technology in Care, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Henri Dunantstraat 2, 6419 PB, Heerlen, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31(0)88 0272120; E-mail: Renee.vandenheuvel@zuyd.nl.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Play is essential for children’s development. Children with severe physical disabilities often experience problems engaging in play. In rehabilitation and special education for children with physical disabilities play-like activities and play for play’s sake are important. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed at examining the possibilities of using the IROMEC robot in rehabilitation and special education for children with severe physical disabilities. METHODS: A mixed methods approach, using individual interviews, two rounds of focus group interviews, a questionnaire and a final session to reach consensus, was used to examine the match between the goals in therapy and special education and the IROMEC robot. RESULTS: The existing play scenarios of IROMEC have the potential to support play for children with severe physical disabilities, especially in the domains of movement functions, learning and applying knowledge, communication/interpersonal interactions and relationships, and play. CONCLUSIONS: The current study helped to build a body of evidence to the possibilities of the IROMEC robot. The results of this study can be used to further develop meaningful robotic play interventions for children with severe physical disabilities.

Keywords: Robot, play, children, physical disabilities, special education, rehabilitation

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-160166

Journal: Technology and Disability, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 109-120, 2017