Virtual Metaverse to Improve Daily Skills of People with Intellectual Disabilities

Laura Hurtado on 31 July 2024

Avatar that enables learning daily skills to enhance the autonomy of people with intellectual disabilities

Plena Inclusión Aragón and Cooperativa Kairós have developed a “metaverse” that allows practicing and learning daily skills through an avatar, aiming for people with intellectual disabilities to improve their autonomy and social participation.

The metaverse includes eight dimensions, in the form of virtual doors, symbolizing the central areas of a quality life: emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, material well-being, personal development, physical well-being, self-determination, social inclusion, and rights. Some of the virtual activities that can be performed through the avatar include exercising, meeting friends, or participating in community activities. The application presents challenges in different areas and offers virtual rewards, such as avatar customization, thereby using gamification to encourage a healthy and fulfilling life.

The tool not only benefits people with disabilities in making decisions, but also allows professionals working with them to better understand their feelings and personal needs, expressed through the avatars. The creation of the metaverse is part of the project “Mi Casa: una vida en comunidad”, a model of deinstitutionalized long-term care for people with intellectual disabilities.

Characteristics of innovation

New technological tool, Disability, Independent living, Link with the community, Personalization of the service, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Localization

Aragón

Partners / Funders

Imascono, Department of Citizenship and Social Rights of the Government of Aragón, Next Generation EU Funds

Genesis

This metaverse was designed by the cooperative Kairós and the regional federations of Plena Inclusión, together with the augmented reality and metaverse studio Imascono, and was presented on February 19, 2024, in Zaragoza.

Initially, it was tested with six people living in the apartments that are part of “Mi Casa: una vida en comunida”, a program launched in 2022 that promotes the autonomy of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through an alternative model of long-term residential care.

Level of implementation

According to Amor Numancia, the coordinator of the disability area of Cooperativa Kairós, the metaverse is an innovative solution that advances the quality of life of people and involves them in their life plans.

Moreover, according to June 2024 data from Plena Inclusión Aragón, the “Mi Casa: una vida en comunidad” program has shown significant improvements in the autonomy and quality of life of its users. It has also had a positive impact on families and the community.

More information

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Cuppa, virtual meetups for unpaid carers

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ATENEA, device adapted to combat the digital divide

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IWI Project, a support program for families seeking to improve their well-being

The IWI Project is a program that provides support to families with minors in their care who detect difficulties within their own homes and wish to address them in a community-based manner.

Manawanui, Self-Directed Support for people with disabilities

Laura Hurtado on 12 June 2024

Project aimed at enhancing the autonomy and freedom of choice for people with disabilities

Manawanui is an initiative that promotes Self-Directed Support, a system of assistance that encourages people with disabilities to choose, through a personal budget, how, when, and with whom they manage the care services they receive.

Through these personalized budgets, “agents” (mostly volunteers) guide and accompany users in decision-making and self-management of these services. The main goal is to place the person at the center and promote their autonomy.

Users develop a personal life plan and are responsible for managing home care services, hiring necessary personnel, and setting their own goals. In this way, people with disabilities gain independence and freedom of choice in their daily lives.

Característiques de la innovació

Disability, Independent living, Innovative organization, New model of intervention, Personalization of the service, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Localització

New Zeland

Col·laboradors / Finançadors

–

Gènesi

Manawanui was created in 2004 and has become a leading and pioneering initiative in self-managed funding for people with disabilities in New Zealand.

Nivell d’implantació

According to Manawanui, 26% of the population under 65 in New Zealand eligible for the program is enrolled in the project. The organization has more than 3,500 users in total, 68% of whom are under 35 years old.

More information

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

Banc d’innovacions

Soy yo literal, a Digital Platform for Youth Mental Health

Soy yo literal is a digital platform promoting mental health among young people

FOKUS PI, an application that facilitates digital social planning

FOKUS PI is a a decision-making support tool for professionals in the social, healthcare, and educational sectors

BCI, a device that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

The BCI is a technological innovation that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

Cuppa, virtual meetups for unpaid carers

Cuppa is a video call program aimed at carers with the goal of sharing experiences and building community.

ATENEA, device adapted to combat the digital divide

ATENEA is an adapted device that contributes to the digital and technological transformation of social services, focusing on the most vulnerable citizens

IWI Project, a support program for families seeking to improve their well-being

The IWI Project is a program that provides support to families with minors in their care who detect difficulties within their own homes and wish to address them in a community-based manner.

NaviLens, a code system that guides individuals with visual impairments in public spaces

Laura Hurtado on 24 April 2024

A code system with relevant information about public spaces to increase the autonomy of people with visual impairments

Individuals with visual impairments face difficulties in performing everyday tasks, such as locating restrooms, recognizing which bus is in front of them, or reading a street sign. To address this issue, NaviLens has been created, a system of labels with codes, similar to barcodes or QR codes, that provides useful information to facilitate the mobility of people with visual impairments in public spaces.

To read the information contained in the signs, all that is needed is to download an application and move the mobile device around the area where the code is located. Without the need to approach closely, NaviLens labels can be read from a distance, while in motion, and with the camera unfocused. These are some of the main differences compared to QR codes, which are of little use to people with visual impairments as they require proximity to be interpreted with a mobile device. This implies that users must know beforehand where they are located.

Once the code is detected, a “click” is heard, and the application vocalizes the information. For example, the stop number where the user is located, the transportation schedule, the position relative to the space, etc. It can also be used in cultural events such as museums or exhibitions, with informative labels about the route or artistic works.

Additionally, some product brands are using NaviLens on the labels of their items to provide information about the components or usage. The application also allows for the identification of personal use objects, as the codes can be printed and stuck onto any surface.