The role of Design and digital media as the basis for conceiving complementary digital means to aid the treatment and support of individuals with cognitive disabilities.

Abstract

This research's goal is to demonstrate the contribution that digital media can have in supporting individuals with cognitive impairment, namely in the access to sensory therapies and clinical follow-up. The study is being developed for the Portuguese context, where this type of therapy is available mainly through Snoezelen rooms. These therapy rooms are mainly located in large urban centers and their supply is far below demand. In the last two years, this situation was significantly worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced an even greater limitation to these rooms. This study arises then with the goal of answering to this difficulty of accessing sensory therapies, through the creation of an online solution that works as an alternative and complementary resource. This paper focuses on this research's first phase, in which was conducted the identification and analysis of the problem; the literature review on the role of design for inclusion; the analysis of the digital solutions currently available in the market; and the presentation of the first studies of the prototype that is being developed. The results obtained with this study's first phase show that there is currently no online solution that answers, in a relevant way, to the needs of this community; and that Design, through its methodologies, may offer a contribution to the construction of an interface solution that favours inclusion.