Using action research to design bereavement software: engaging people with intellectual disabilities for effective...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Loss and bereavement are universal human experiences, with death representing the ultimate loss.
• Individuals with intellectual disabilities often face unique challenges in expressing emotions related to loss.
• Developing supportive tools is crucial for facilitating emotional processing in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a qualitative, flexible, and interactive computerized tool to support emotional expression around loss for people with intellectual disabilities.
• To explore the application of Participatory Action Research (PAR) in creating this supportive tool.

Main Methods:

• Participatory Action Research (PAR) was employed as the framework for tool development.
• This approach involved collaboration between researchers and individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Main Results:

• An accessible and flexible software tool was co-created.
• The tool facilitates storytelling about loss and bereavement.
• It promotes spontaneous emotional expression that can be shared.

Conclusions:

• The developed tool enables individuals to capture experiences in a storyboard format.
• Content is storable, retrievable, and printable.
• The tool allows for personalization, such as adding photographs, enhancing its utility.