Designing solutions for special needs groups, particularly children with Cerebral Palsy (CP), involves challenges due to limited communication and participation of the end-users. CP presents various motor control issues, often necessitating the use of Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs) to improve muscle health and gait development. However, improper AFO usage can lead to adverse effects like redness, itching, and bone deformities, discouraging their use. To address this, mCoDe, a “Multi-user centric co-design” approach was employed, involving experts, medical professionals, and educators as proxies for end-users. Qualitative methods, such as contextual inquiry and stakeholder interviews, informed the design of a real-time pressure-sensing device for children with CP. This wearable, developed through iterative refinement and testing, alerts caregivers and promotes proper orthoses usage for muscle spasticity management. It also allows medical professionals to monitor usage, aiding customization for future treatment and foot growth. Emphasizing comfort, this device offers a snug fit and reusability, catering to user needs. This work demonstrates tailored solutions for individuals with limited communication, showcasing the effectiveness of a “Multi-user centric co-design” approach, mCoDe in addressing special needs.

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Co-design of Foot Health Monitoring Solution for Children with Cerebral Palsy

  • Shubham Ramesh Vernekar,
  • Kavyashree Venkatesh,
  • Shakuntala Acharya

摘要

Designing solutions for special needs groups, particularly children with Cerebral Palsy (CP), involves challenges due to limited communication and participation of the end-users. CP presents various motor control issues, often necessitating the use of Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs) to improve muscle health and gait development. However, improper AFO usage can lead to adverse effects like redness, itching, and bone deformities, discouraging their use. To address this, mCoDe, a “Multi-user centric co-design” approach was employed, involving experts, medical professionals, and educators as proxies for end-users. Qualitative methods, such as contextual inquiry and stakeholder interviews, informed the design of a real-time pressure-sensing device for children with CP. This wearable, developed through iterative refinement and testing, alerts caregivers and promotes proper orthoses usage for muscle spasticity management. It also allows medical professionals to monitor usage, aiding customization for future treatment and foot growth. Emphasizing comfort, this device offers a snug fit and reusability, catering to user needs. This work demonstrates tailored solutions for individuals with limited communication, showcasing the effectiveness of a “Multi-user centric co-design” approach, mCoDe in addressing special needs.