Enhancing Independent Task Performance of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Through the Use of an iPad Application

There has been a dramatic increase in the utilization of technology within the fields of education and rehabilitation in the past two decades. Two studies focused on technology intended to assist a total of seven young adults with developmental disabilities to increase independence, decrease the need for paid supports, and improve task performance. Participants completed food preparation tasks in an employee break room, adhering to an industry specific protocol, while using a task application on an iPad that provided audio and video prompts. A multiple baseline across participants was used to show effects of the intervention on task performance and reliance on prompts. Results indicated that using an application on an iPad to video model tasks was effective in improving and maintaining accurate skill performance, while reducing the need for prompts. Participants in both study one and study two demonstrated mastery of task performance using the iPad application. In study one, three of the four participants faded the use of prompts, whereas only one of the three participants demonstrated independence in study two. Implications for future research are discussed.