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Using Apps and Sensors to Understand Health Needs of Young Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities​

Study Flyer:
Eligibility Criteria:
WHO:

Researchers: Dr. Shuting Zheng and Dr. Meghan Burke
Institution: Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, partnered with Vanderbilt University

WHAT:

Leveraging technology for IDD individuals

WHERE:

Online on Zoom

RECRUITMENT ENDS:

2026-09-30

Interested?

Contact:

If you are interested, please click here to complete our short interest form: https://redcap.dellmed.utexas.edu/surveys/?s=FFYCHPEF9WYTKYAN

What's the study about?

The feasibility study will engage young adults with IDD and their caregivers to design a data collection protocol using medical records, surveys, and wearable sensors. We hope to be better equipped to aid in the development of technology for individuals with IDD, a population that is overlooked when designing health technology and apps.

Who can participate?

-Young adults ages 18-26 who have been diagnosed with an intellectual and/or
developmental disability and require significant support
-Caregivers who will participate with them
-Access to a smartphone
-Able to join Zoom calls and answer basic questions

What will participants be doing?

Young adults and their caregivers will join us for one 1-hour pre-study Zoom call, followed by 2 weeks of data collection. Data collection includes the young adult wearing a Fitbit and the caregiver filling out short surveys daily. Post-study, we will follow up through a 1-hour Zoom call to gather feedback from caregivers and young adults.

Why is this important?

Adults with IDD are often left out of healthcare research or health-related decision-making. Very few health apps currently are designed with input from adults and their caregivers. ​We want to better understand what works well, and what doesn’t, for young adults with IDD and their caregivers when it comes to technology and its features for health tracking.

Physical Health Personal Experience Diagnosis & Assessment Services & Support Well-Being/Quality of Life
Research Study Website