Online EZY Tai Chi: Simplified 8-Form Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

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Project Summary People with intellectual disabilities (ID) commonly have below average motor competence with mobility limitations, especially in the areas of balance and gait, leaving them at high risk for falls and injuries. There is a need for exercise intervention programs that target the specific motor needs of this population. One successful approach to reduce falls in people with ID is Tai Chi. This project, Online Ezy Tai Chi: A Simplified Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, will utilize Behavioral Skills Training (BST) and target individuals with ID and a Learning Partner (LP: a parent, direct support staff, or foster care provider to achieve our aim of developing and testing the efficacy of simplified 8-form Tai Chi program developed specifically for adults with ID. This Phase I online program enables adults with ID to learn some basic Tai Chi moves at home in a familiar environment with the support of a Learning Partner. In Phase II we will incorporate the complete routine and include additional user- friendly features such as instant replay, an “exercise scheduler” function, video clips showing movement analysis and extended teaching segments. The final unit in Phase 2 will feature “Moving into the Community,” with guidelines for identifying and engaging in locally available Tai Chi programs. The primary objective of this project is to develop a Tai Chi program with instructional strategies known to be effective for individuals with ID and a Learning Partner. Phase I has three specific aims: (1) design and develop the first five forms of the 8-Form Tai Chi exercise program; (2) conduct a usability test of the online program with five dyads (n=10) representing typical users to gauge the overall usability and content of the online program; and (3) recruit thirty dyads for a feasibility study of the first five of the 8-form program with a sample of 30 individuals with mild to moderate ID and 30 Learning Partners (n=60). Feasibility will be demonstrated by met recruitment goals, low attrition rate, high log in rate, high system usability, and high satisfaction. We will what we learn in Phase 1 to expand the Phase 2 program to include all eight forms, and additional instructional features to create an easy to learn routine and conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of the finished product.