Importance of the Use of Technology by Young People with Intellectual Disabilities to Improve Their Quality of Life and the Relationship with University Students

Abstract

This project intends to revisit the experience of inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in college grounds by undergraduate students, using a robot built with economical and accessible materials, regardless of their economy and educational level. The main objective of this research is to analyze and contrast the meanings that has for university students and young people with intellectual disabilities the development of a robot of materials accessible to anyone. In order to achieve the previous a methodology based on science fiction prototyping (SFP) was used. The participants built a cardboard robot with simple electric circuits and LEDs in order to empower the participants with cognitive disabilities, with the help of an undergraduate student. The analysis was focused on four axes: perception of the workshop, enjoyment, learning, and motivation and engagement. It was found that this workshop encourages the university students to support the participant with cognitive disabilities, feeling excited and grateful for the possibility of collaborating with people with different conditions. On the other hand, the young people with disabilities realized about their capabilities (it is common that their families are distrustful and negative about their changes to achieve an objective or task) and that science is not necessarily far from them.