Healthy Athletes, Special Olympics International
Project Description:
The UConn UCEDD is leading a multistate/country exploratory evaluation of the implementation of the Young Athletes mobile app to support young children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in collaboration with Special Olympics International. The evaluation will test the feasibility, relevance, usefulness, and effectiveness of the Young Athletes mobile app through a mixed method evaluation design that will include a participatory approach with end users, who will assist in the development of the final evaluation questions and methodology. We are identifying process and outcome performance measures to provide quantitative and qualitative data to assess progress, challenges, and successes in achieving the intended outcomes. The four primary outcomes of the evaluation include: (1) Understanding the criteria for successful implementation of at-home intervention through Young Athletes mobile app; (2) Assessing the impact of Young Athletes app on children mastering skills targeted through the app; (3) Assessing the impact of Young Athletes app on increasing parent and caregiver knowledge; and (4) Assessing the impact of Young Athletes app on increasing parent and caregiver attitudes, empowerment, and self-efficacy. The project is being conducted in collaboration with Young Athletes, Special Olympics International and seven regional/national Special Olympic sites including Special Olympics Ohio, MD and MS in the U.S. and International Special Olympics Malta, Kenya, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
Keyword(s):
Mental/Behavioral Health – Autism, Developmental Disabilities, Early Childhood – General, Mental/Behavioral Health – General , Social Determinants of Health, Young Athletes, Special Olympics; phone apps
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities, Quality of Life
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote, Urban, Territory, Specific Groups
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
National, International
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
