Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project: Development and Distribution of Mobile Applications For Use By People With Disabilities

Background:People increasingly use mobile applications (apps) on their phones and personal devices, in all areas of their lives. A wide variety of mobile applications facilitate positive experiences and outcomes among people with disabilities (Liu et al., 2023; Korczak et al., 2020; McMahon et al., 2023; Frechette, et al., 2022).For example, app technologies are evolving to provide outdoor and indoor navigation aids for people who are blind or have low vision. Apps have been developed to provide self-management and goal-tracking support among transition-aged youth with intellectual disabilities. Apps have been developed to help enhance sensory and motor function among people with disabilities, and to promote communication between people with disabilities and their health care providers. To support positive employment outcomes, apps have been developed to aid in the provision of workplace accommodations, and to provide automated job coaching supports for people with disabilities.While mobile applications such as these have been developed, in part, with NIDILRR funding, NIDILRR grants are generally too large and lengthy to support the efficient and timely development of single mobile applications. As a result, in its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, NIDILRR does not allow submission of grant proposals that are used exclusively for development of mobile applications.To help meet the need for the efficient and timely development of mobile applications (apps) for use by people with disabilities, NIDILRR is seeking proposals for a grant that will facilitate the development and distribution of such apps. References:Frechette, M., Fanning, J., Hsieh, K., Rice, L., Sosnoff, J. (2022). The usability of a smartphone-based fall risk assessment app for adult wheelchair users: observational study. JMIR Formative Research. 6(9). 10.2196/32453.Korczak, P. & Zwierzchowska, A. (2020). Using mobile applications in the process of enhancing and restoring abilities in individuals with intellectual disability and other disabilities- A literature review. Advances in Rehabilitation. 34. 36-41. 10.5114/areh.2020.100774.Liu, B., Beheshti, M., Naeimi, T., Zhu, Z., Vedanthan, R., Seiple, W., & Rizzo, J. (2023). The BLV App Arcade: a new curated repository and evaluation rubric for mobile applications supporting blindness and low vision. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology. https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2023.2187094.McMahon, D., McMahon, A., Anglin, M., Abrams, K., Wilds, K., & Aumel, A. (2022). Digital health, fitness, and wellness tools for students with disabilities. Innovations in Special Education Technology. 38(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/01626434221094795.Priority:The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living establishes a priority for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (DRRP) to support the development and distribution of mobile applications (apps) for use by people with disabilities. Through the development and distribution of a wide variety of apps, the DRRP must contribute to positive outcomes among people with disabilities in each of the following outcome domains: (1) community living and participation, (2) health and function, and (3) employment. These outcome domains are described in NIDILRR’s 2024-2028 Long Range Plan.To contribute to these positive outcomes among people with disabilities, the DRRP must:Provide a systematic process for soliciting, evaluating, and selecting mobile application development ideas from developers in the field.The evaluation and selection process must include substantial involvement of people with disabilities. Provide resources and consultation to developers of single mobile applications for use by people with disabilities.The DRRP must support developers in the field to produce at least four mobile applications for people with disabilities per year, in each of the five years of the DRRP grant. Each individual app supported by the DRRP must be designed to improve outcomes among people with disabilities in one or more of NIDILRR's three outcome domains. The mobile applications developed with support from the DRRP must meet the requirements and standards of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, and must be accessible and usable for all people with disabilities. The team of professionals on the DRRP staff who provide consultation to developers must include people with disabilities. The DRRP must identify the stage or stages of development that they are using during the development of each mobile application that it supports. Promote and distribute the mobile applications supported by the DRRP – for wide use among people with disabilities. Evaluate the number of people with disabilities who are using the mobile applications developed as part of the DRRP, and the extent of their use. Definitions: Stages of Development:Proof of concept means the stage of development where key technical challenges are resolved. Stage activities may include recruiting study participants; verifying product requirements; and implementing and testing (typically in controlled contexts) key concepts, components, or systems; and resolving technical challenges. A technology transfer plan is typically developed and transfer partner(s) identified, and plan implementation may have started. Stage results establish that a product concept is feasible.Proof of product means the stage of development where a fully-integrated and working prototype meeting critical technical requirements is created. Stage activities may include recruiting study participants, implementing and iteratively refining the prototype, testing the prototype in natural or less-controlled contexts, and verifying that all technical requirements are met. A technology transfer plan is typically ongoing in collaboration with the transfer partner(s). Stage results establish that a product embodiment is realizable.Proof of adoption means the stage of development where a product is substantially adopted by its target population and used for its intended purpose. Stage activities typically include completing product refinements and continued implementation of the technology transfer plan in collaboration with the transfer partner(s). Other activities include measuring users' awareness of the product; opinion of the product; decisions to adopt, use, and retain products; and identifying barriers and facilitators impacting product adoption. Stage results establish that a product is beneficial.