Affect-us

Decline in functioning and now?

What impact does it have when the functioning of people with a visual and intellectual disability declines? This is being investigated, whereby the knowledge obtained will lead to a guideline with recommendations regarding the care of aging people with a visual and intellectual disability.

Digital Visiting

During the corona lockdowns, people with intellectual disabilities were dependent on digital communication due to restrictions on physical visits, which was new for many of them. During this research, the impact of digital contact is investigated for people with intellectual disabilities who live in a care institution. Does this have positive effects and can digital contact take a permanent place within care organisations?

Attune & Stimulate-checklist

The Attune & Stimulate-checklist and accompanying app were developed to support parents and caregivers of people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities in identifying behaviour and tension and responding adequately to this. A scientific publication about this research can be found here.

Mindfulness for people with a visual and/or intellectual disability

A modified mindfulness training protocol has been created for people with a visual and/or intellectual disability. By giving mindfulness training to clients, the effect of this modified mindfulness training is being investigated, so that it can be used within the care for these clients.

HiSense Taxi app

This app was developed for drivers who regularly transport people with intellectual disabilities. Through statements, practical examples and questions, a driver learns more about people with intellectual disabilities and receives tips on what to look out for in contact with these passengers. The idea is that the HiSense Taxi app helps to better understand people with intellectual disabilities, so that this contributes to a positive atmosphere during taxi rides: a passenger who feels understood will experience less stress.

Integrative Therapy for Attachment and Behavior

Integrative Therapy for Attachment and Behavior is a psychotherapeutic treatment aimed at serious problems with attachment and behavior, such as aggression towards supervisors, self-mutilation and severely withdrawn behavior. The therapy is intended for children and adults with a moderate to severe (multiple) intellectual disability. During the research, the effectiveness of this treatment is determined and it is investigated how this therapy can be adapted for children without an intellectual disability.

Pain app for people with severe intellectual disabilities

This study examines whether we can physically measure pain. This is especially important for people who cannot talk about pain, such as someone with severe intellectual disabilities. We use a smart sock to measure pain. The smart sock can measure the sweat on the sole of the foot. How much someone sweats gives about how they feel. The measurement of the smart sock is then sent via Bluetooth to a program on a mobile phone: the EMB pain app. The software is specifically developed to signal possible pain.

Time and time perception

In this study, we investigated how people with a visual and/or intellectual disability deal with time. Both the perception of time and the daily time management are examined. Based on the collected knowledge, recommendations are made for the support of people with a visual and/or intellectual disability to improve their skills around time perception and daily time management.

Supporting families of children with Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis

The disease Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (JNCL) is a rare metabolic disorder in which children deteriorate in functioning. This disease has a huge impact on the life of the child and his or her family. In this research we develop a support module for families of children with JNCL in the guidance of emotion and behavior. With this we want to improve the care for children with JNCL and their families.

Serious game Broodles

The serious game ‘Broodles’ was developed to support siblings of children with a visual and/or intellectual disability in their thoughts, feelings and in dealing with difficult situations. During the research, the effectiveness of the game was determined in order to improve the psychosocial well-being of siblings of children with a visual and/or intellectual disability. A scientific publication about this research can be found here.

Getting used to wearing glasses

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of wearing glasses in daily life for people with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. The results of this study provide family and caregivers with more information about wearing glasses. A scientific publication about this research can be found here.

Can I trust you?

How can we improve the trusting relationships between people with a visual and/or mild to moderate intellectual disability and their professional caregivers? During this research, the promoting and hindering factors in these trusting relationships are collected.

Mentalizing in a virtual world

In this study, a VR group session was developed for future caregivers of people with a visual and/or intellectual disability. The VR program allows future healthcare professionals to experience the influence of a mentalizing attitude on the mood and behavior of a client.

Serious game You & I

During this research, a computer game was developed for people with a mild intellectual disability. The goal of the computer game is to better understand your own thoughts and feelings and those of others. The game can also help to improve stress regulation. The computer game was developed with the help of clients with a mild intellectual disability, so that the game fits the target group as optimally as possible. The serious game You & I is now freely available and can be played via www.jijenikgame.nl. A scientific publication about this research can be found here.

Improved assessment = improved care

With this research we want to contribute to better differential diagnosis of attachment problems and autism spectrum disorder in adults with a visual impairment and/or moderate to borderline intellectual disability. With the knowledge gained we want to be able to add a reliable and valid diagnostic instrument to the current diagnostic instruments for this target group.

Development of a Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT) protocol

During this research, a protocol was developed of a Mentalization Based Treatment Therapy (MBT) for treating people with a visual impairment and psychological/psychiatric problems. The protocol ensures that all MBT therapists in the Netherlands will work in the same way.

Providing good care together (work in a triangle)

In this study, providers of care for people with intellectual disabilities, together with the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Hogeschool van Amsterdam and ROC Amsterdam, set up a number of experimental workshops. Within these workshops, clients, their caretakers and professionals work together to develop forms of cooperation in which all parties can contribute their knowledge, skills and preferences equally.

Selfcompassion

During this study, the existing protocol for compassion training was adapted for people with a visual and/or intellectual disability. This compassion training was developed to help them develop more (self)compassion, which increases their psychological well-being.

Robot Bart stops stress

This research project investigated whether social robots are suitable for helping people with a visual and/or intellectual disability to do relaxation exercises. In this way, robots can be used in a meaningful and targeted way in healthcare. A scientific publication about this research can be found here.

Bioresponse system

During this research, a ‘smart sock’ was developed to be able to display experienced stress by people with severe intellectual disabilities to the caregivers via an app on a mobile phone. More information can be found on this website.