The Efficacy of Technology Use by People with Intellectual Disability: A Single-Subject Design Meta-Analysis

Abstract

It is generally assumed that when technology is designed with the principles of universal design in mind, people with intellectual disability will also benefit. However, there is no research concerning the degree to which technology use is impacted by the presence or absence of universal design features. To address this and to examine the degree to which people with intellectual disability benefit from technology, we conducted a meta-analysis of single subject design studies that implemented technology with a person with intellectual disability. We found that most of the technology use evaluations with people with intellectual disability have been with a relatively limited number of technology types and do not include universal design features. The need for research on the impact of specific types of universal design features is discussed.