'It's not all fun': Introducing digital technology to meet the emotional and mental health needs of adults with learning disabilities. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hallas, Penny; Cleaves, Lydia
• Is Part Of: International journal of art therapy. Volume 22:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 83
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Art therapy -- arts therapies -- learning disabilities -- digital technologies -- interactive technology -- gesture-based technology; Art Therapy -- Periodicals; Art therapy -- Periodicals; 615.85156
• DOI: 10.1080/17454832.2016.1260038
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-4832

Abstract

ABSTRACT: A project that began with an aspiration to introduce digital technologies into an arts therapies service turned into arts therapies taking a lead on these being introduced across all professions and services in a National Health Service (NHS) Learning Disabilities Service. This article can only give limited details of the project as a whole; rather, consideration is given to the benefits of digital technologies to adults with a learning disability, with particular focus on gesture-based technologies. Project design and methodology are described, followed by brief accounts of gesture-based technology (GBT) used across the spectrum of arts engagement and art therapy. Data from qualitative outcome measures inform discussion of the impact of and potential for gesture-based technology in arts therapies practice. In conclusion, we recommend areas for further investigation, and perhaps encourage others to overcome systemic barriers to introducing digital innovation.