Project Description
Challenge
Children with neurodevelopmental disabilities often struggle because of deficits in attention and executive functions/EF (e.g., inhibition, working memory, cognitive flexibility). These deficits contribute to severe long-term impairments at school and in life.
Project Summary
Dino Island is a tablet-based game-like intervention designed to improve attention, short-term memory, and self-regulation (EF). It is specifically designed for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Previous studies of Dino Island (and its predecessor, Caribbean Quest/CQ) in children with Autism and FASD showed significant gains in attention, memory, self-regulation, emotional and behavioural control, self-efficacy, use of problem-solving strategies, and academic performance. The program is accessible and can thrive in a wide range of settings (e.g. school, home, and community settings) and breaks down barriers by allowing remote and resource-limited communities to address needs that might otherwise go unmet
Looking Towards Cycle III
Dino Island served as a national/international showcase project, within the Panacea Gaming Project, for how to bring evidence-based neuroscientific interventions to the public. Dino Island has the potential to significantly improve quality of life and outcomes for the thousands of children living with neurodevelopmental disabilities worldwide who experience attention and executive functioning problems.
The Dino Island team has also developed a commercialization plan for moving the intervention into the public domain. The researchers anticipate a strong market for Dino Island, given the scarcity of effective, evidence-based interventions targeting attention and EF– and the prevalence of challenges in these domains among children with neurodevelopmental disabilities. It is estimated that Dino island will impact 4,500 – 5,000 children and families directly over the next three years.
Funding
Contributions Received to Date:
Kids Brain Health Network – $598,017
HealthTech Connex (HTC) – $187,600
Panacea Gaming Platform/The Uncomplicated Family – $813,318
The Centre for Child Development – $35,500
Team
Principal Investigators
Sarah J. Macoun, University of Victoria
Kimberly A. Kerns, University of Victoria
Implementation Partners
The Uncomplicated Family
HealthTechConnect
Surrey School District
Stepping Stones Autism Services
The Centre for Child Development
Previous Cycle II Initiatives
Dino Island/Caribbean Quest Game for ASD & FASD
Also see
Dino Island: The therapeutic game for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities
