Clinical Research Directory

ICF-Based Interdisciplinary Case Management for Individuals With Disabilities

This study evaluates whether an interdisciplinary case management approach based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) and the Rehab-Cycle® framework can improve rehabilitation outcomes for adults with intellectual disabilities receiving community-based rehabilitation services. A total of 120 adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities will be recruited from community rehabilitation services and randomly assigned to either an ICF-based interdisciplinary case management group or a conventional care management group. Participants in the ICF-based group will receive coordinated assessments, goal-setting, intervention planning, and outcome evaluation conducted by an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. Participants in the control group will continue to receive standard services delivered through conventional care management practices. The study will assess changes in functioning, activity participation, quality of life, life satisfaction, and rehabilitation team effectiveness. The findings will help determine whether ICF-based interdisciplinary case management can provide more personalized, coordinated, and effective community rehabilitation services for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Comparing the Impact of Peer Support vs. Staff-Delivered Transportation Interventions for Young Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

This clinical trial will look at whether young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (YA-IDD) have better outcomes when a travel training intervention called Ready to Ride (R2R) is taught by a specially trained Peer Supporter (PS) who shares the lived experience of having an IDD than YA-IDD who are taught Ready to Ride by staff at their community services organization. The aspects of life being looked at are loneliness, satisfaction with social activities, travel skills, service use and access, employment, and health related quality of life. The researchers think the following things will happen. 1. YA-IDD who learn from a Peer Supporter will report significantly higher satisfaction with social activities, increased social connectedness and significantly less loneliness compared to YA who are taught organization staff. 2. Both groups will learn the same amount of travel skills. 3. YA-IDD who learn from a Peer Supporter will show larger increases in access to community-based services, transportation use, employment and health related services after 4 months than the YA taught by organizational staff.

Reducing Anxiety During Virtual Reality Kayaking in Youth With Intellectual Disabilities.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a physical warm-up can lower anxiety during virtual reality (VR) games in youth with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. VR is a fun and modern technology, but it can sometimes feel overwhelming for new users. This study takes place during a summer sports camp to see how we can make VR more comfortable and enjoyable. The main question it aims to answer is: Does using real-world props, like a paddle or a real kayak, before and during a VR game lower feelings of anxiety? Researchers will compare playing the VR game with no special props to playing with kayak props. This will help us see if touching and feeling real physical items helps participants feel calmer before putting on the VR headset. Participants will: 1. Answer a short survey about their feelings before the game. 2. Complete a short, safe physical warm-up with trained instructors. 3. Play a VR kayaking game while sitting on a cushion or in a real kayak. 4. Wear a life jacket to make the experience feel more real. 5. Answer a short survey about their feelings right after the game

Body Awareness Training for Motor Skills and Activity Performance in Children With Intellectual Disabilities

We tested whether adding a simple, structured Body Awareness Training (BAT) program to conventional physiotherapy improves motor skills, everyday activity performance, and participation (goal achievement and satisfaction) in children with mild to moderate intellectual disability.41 children aged 8-15 years with mild or moderate intellectual disability completed the study. They were randomly assigned to receive either standard physiotherapy (control) or the same physiotherapy plus Body Awareness Training (intervention).All children received conventional physiotherapy three times per week for six weeks (18 sessions total). The physiotherapy included warm-up, range-of-motion, stretching, strengthening exercises and electrotherapy. The intervention group received an additional 30 minutes per session of Body Awareness Training during the same period. BAT activities were simple, rhythmic, and child-friendly. Both groups improved in some fine motor domains, but improvements were larger in the group that received Body Awareness Training. The BAT group showed additional significant gains in manual dexterity, balance, and running speed/agility that were not observed in the control group. Children in the BAT group reported greater improvements in everyday activity performance and higher satisfaction. The BAT group also achieved better outcomes on individualized functional goals (GAS) for several prioritized activities. Most improvements were maintained at the 10-week follow-up. Adding short, structured Body Awareness Training to routine physiotherapy may provide extra benefits for motor coordination, balance, and meaningful everyday functioning in children with mild-moderate intellectual disability. BAT exercises are low-cost, adaptable, and can be integrated into regular therapy sessions; they may help bridge improvements in motor skills to better performance and participation in daily life. Clinicians should individualize intensity and progression according to each child's abilities and stop or adapt activities if pain, excessive fatigue, or breathlessness occurs.

The (Cost)Effectiveness of a Social Robot for Persons With Problems in Daily Structure and Planning in Disability Care

The goal of this multiple baseline single case study is to study the (cost)effectiveness of a social robot in reducing professional caregiver support and promoting independence for individuals in long-term disability care experiencing problems with daily structure and planning. The main research questions it aims to answer are: * What is the effect of the social robot on the frequency of moments professional caregivers support individuals experiencing problems with daily structure and planning with the execution of daily activities, compared to care as usual, after 6 weeks? * Does the effect of the social robot persist in the long term (after 6 months)? * What is the cost-effectiveness of the social robot? Participants will: * Use a social robot in their daily living environment * Answer survey questions about their quality of life and wellbeing during the study period * Share their experiences in interviews Their profesional caregivers will: * Register the frequency and duration of support they provide to the participant daily for 13 weeks and a 2-week follow-up * Give weekly updates and score participants' goal attainment while using the social robot * Fill in questionnaires on participants' productivity and health care consumption during the study period * Share their experiences in interviews

Adaptive Mixed Reality for Students With Intellectual Disabilities

This study design investigates the empirical efficacy of an Adaptive Mixed Reality Learning Environment (AMRLE) tailored for educable adolescents and young adults (aged 10-20) diagnosed with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Standard digital user interfaces often impose heavy cognitive taxes on neurodivergent learners, generating a operational digital divide that limits their independence. To address this issue, an intelligent application was developed to track behavioral metrics, including response latency and error frequency, dynamically delivery sensory scaffolding, visual pruning, and localized Arabic auditory guidance. The primary purpose is to systematically evaluate the clinical-pedagogical impact of this dynamic spat…

Real-Time Pose Recognition Technology for Improving Tennis Learning in Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities

This study investigates the effect of real-time pose recognition technology on learning tennis skills in individuals with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. The study compares two training methods: traditional face-to-face tennis instruction and training supported by Real-Time Pose Recognition System (RPRS). Thirty participants aged 12-18 from special education institutions in Burdur, Turkey, were randomly assigned to either the experimental group using the technology or a control group receiving traditional instruction. The study aims to determine whether the use of real-time pose recognition improves tennis skill accuracy, learning speed, attention, and motivation compared to traditional methods.

Ultra-long-term EEG Monitoring in PwID

Many people with intellectual disabilities (PwID) have seizures. Electroencephalography (EEG), which measures the brain's electrical activity, is a key method of diagnosing and assessing seizures but can be difficult and uncomfortable for PwID. UNEEG medical has developed a very small device ('SubQ') that can be put under the skin on a person's head to track their brain activity without staying in the hospital. It has been implanted for 15 months successfully in people with seizures but not in PwID. The aim of this project is to use learnings from previous co-production work to test how well the device can detect seizures in people with mild to moderate ID and to assess its safety and impact on quality of life and behaviour. The project will also look into carer and clinican experiences using the system and its potential usefulness and cost impact. Having an accurate means of identifying seizures is particularly important for people with mild to moderate ID because they cannot always tell us about their experiences in a meaningful manner. This means that seizures are more likely to be missed or attributed to behavioural issues. Healthcare professionals will identify eligible patients to be invited to participate in the study. These patients will be diagnosed with mild to moderate ID, but will have the capacity to consent to take part in the study. The patients who participate in the study will have the UNEEG SubQ device implanted under the skin on their scalp. Ongoing EEG data from the device will be collected and be compared with seizure diaries. The project will also examine any behaviour issues and quality of life using surveys before implantation as well as immediately, 3-months, and 6-months after. The patients, their carers and healthcare professionals will be invited to focus groups to share their experiences with the technology.

PGx Medication Safety Reviews of Persons With IDD

The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of a comprehensive medication review and PGx initiative as part of the care process for individuals in the care of CP Unlimited. This initiative may help improve management of medications and overall health and well-being for participating individuals. Please note that in the context of the research being conducted, all information will remain confidential and deidentified for analyses. Under the proposed study protocol, CP Unlimited, in partnership with pharmacists at GalenusRx, will implement and assess a comprehensive medication safety and PGx initiative. Almost three quarters of all clinical trials have eligibility criteria resulting in the exclusion of adults with IDD. This study will help address ongoing health practice disparity. As indicated above, the investigators are requesting the authorization of the guardian or representative, on behalf of the participant under their supervision, to enroll this individual in the proposed study because she/he is currently prescribed medications or may eventually receive prescribed or over-the-counter medications. Hereinafter, the denomination "he/she, him/her, his/her or them/their" will be used to refer to the individual with IDD. The response to medication can be affected by variations in our genes and by other medications and various disease conditions. Information contained in our genes can vary from one patient to another patient and this can explain why we all can respond differently to medications. Genetic testing and a review of his/her medications can help to determine if the medication will work for him/her. PGx is how his/her genes affect the way he/she responds to specific drugs. PGx can tell if he/she is more or less likely to feel bad reactions to a drug, or if a drug is likely to benefit him/her and be safe for him/her to take. Knowing his/her genetic information and all medicines that he/she is taking can help his/her pharmacist and his/her doctor find the combination of medicines that will work the best for him/her, now and in the future.