iCalidad, a technological tool for the quality of life of people with ASD

Aina Relats on 9 May 2023

Assessment and support tool to improve the quality of life of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families. With an innovative methodology, the aspects that most affect the quality of life of a person are assessed and individualised support plans are designed, adapted to the needs, interests and expectations.

iCalidad is, therefore, a collaborative technological tool that corresponds to a system for assessing the quality of life of people with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It was born out of the realisation that the assessment of this disorder is subjective and that the assessment instruments are often not adapted to the reality of the people who suffer from it, as pointed out by the advances in knowledge that show that ASD manifests itself in a very specific way in each case.

It is flexible and works in such a way that the perspective of the person with ASD is integrated into the design of their own plan, as are the families and professionals who know them best. These people constitute the evaluation team and respond individually to a questionnaire formulated by iCalidad. The technological tool systematises and compares, and also generates a quality report that integrates the responses of all the team members. It is the team that is responsible for evaluating it together with the aim of designing –by consensus– a personalised and optimal support plan.

Thus, iCalidad enables people with ASD to participate in making decisions about their lives and to achieve meaningful personal goals. It also enables families and professionals to collaborate and offer appropriate support to the person with the disorder. Finally, iQuality enables organisations to provide quality support and to respond –appropriately and innovatively– to the priorities, interests and needs of people with ASD.

Characteristics of innovation

Bank of innovations, Disability, Integrated care, New model of intervention, New technological tool, Personalization of the service, Proximity care, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Localization

Spain

Partners / Funders

Red para la Calidad de Vida, Autismo España

Genesis

iQuality was created by the Network for Quality of Life, a work team coordinated by Autism Spain and integrated by 15 professionals from its partner entities. It was promoted in 2011 with the aim of evaluating the impact of support on quality of life and to be able to plan adequate interventions. Between 2015 and 2016, a pilot study was carried out with 3 entities, and since then, the tool has been developed. It thus promotes innovation in support systems and services for people with ASD and their families.

Level of implementation

iCalidad has had the direct participation of more than 70 relatives of people with ASD, more than 143 professionals and more than 60 people with ASD. Numerous people have done so indirectly. Currently, more than 19 organisations use iCalidad.

In addition, the Quality of Life Network has designed a system of indicators that allows entities to objectify and contrast the impact of the supports and promote innovation and continuous improvement.

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Codi Colors, inclusive method for learning the piano

Aina Relats on 4 April 2023

Innovative method of musical education designed for people with disabilities to learn to play the piano and enjoy making music. It allows them to feel fulfilled thanks to the practical results of the method, enabling them to play songs and pieces following a score based on basic musical concepts.

Codi Colors –in English, the Colour Code– works by associating each note with a colour. This simplified structure makes musical structures much easier to memorise and learn. It is put into practice through complete graphic and didactic material. Thus, it counts with a book for the student and a support book for teachers and families, in which the methodology and advice for its application are explained.

Both books consist of a repertoire of 57 traditional, popular and signature songs written with the code and accompanied by illustrations. The pieces –all of an accessible level– are arranged according to degree of difficulty and theme, mostly referring to the different seasons of the year. The scores are adapted to make them easier to understand: they are written in treble clef, without time signatures or values, and the size of the staves is large, among other things. In addition to the books, more specifically prepared teaching material –an adapted music booklet and coloured stickers– make it possible to implement the method, which can be perfectly combined with coloured instruments (bells, pipes, bells, horns, carillons, etc.).

Although Codi Colors is mainly aimed at pupils with very diverse special educational needs –physical, sensory, communication, intellectual, mental disorders–, it is not only for these groups. Thus, Codi Colors paves the way for making music and avoids the difficulty of conventional music reading for everyone. It is valid for the initial learning of music -for students at an early age-, for musical awareness and for musical language or instrument classes. In addition, the music learning system works for both group and individual lessons.