Voice-based conversational agents are becoming increasingly integrated into everyday life through mobile devices and smart speakers. These systems offer considerable potential to enhance social inclusion, independence, and engagement in daily activities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. However, mainstream conversational agents such as Google Home and Alexa Echo Show are primarily designed for neurotypical users and often fail to accommodate the cognitive and communication needs of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Consequently, this population experiences significant barriers when attempting to access and use such technologies meaningfully. This research explores how conversational agents can be effectively designed and developed to support individuals with intellectual disabilities. The study began with a systematic literature review examining existing research on conversational agents for this population. Following this, a user study was conducted over two-month period in a disability support organization, to investigate the specific needs, preferences, and challenges faced by individuals with intellectual disabilities when interacting with off-the-shelf systems. Drawing on these insights, a customized conversational agent is currently being designed and developed to address key accessibility and usability challenges. In the final phase, the agent will be deployed and evaluated in real-world settings to assess its usability, effectiveness, and impact on user engagement.
Madhuka Nadeeshani (Thu,) studied this question.