A case study of robot interaction among individuals with profound and multiple learning disabilities

Abstract

A tremendous amount of research is being performed regarding robot interaction with individuals having intellectual disability, especially for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). These researches have shown many promising advancements about the use of interactive robots for rehabilitation of such individuals. However, these studies fail to analyze and explore the effects of robotics interaction with individuals having profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). This research presents a thorough case study regarding interaction of individuals having PMLD with a humanoid robot in different possible categories of robotic interaction. Separate interaction activities are designed as a representative for the different categories of possible clinical applications of the interactive robot. All the trials were assessed using different evaluation techniques. Finally, the results strongly suggest that robotic interactions can help to induce a target behavior among these individuals, to teach and to encourage them which can bring an autonomy to certain extent in their life.