Project team members:

• Prof. Renata Pinjatela, PhD
• Assoc. Prof. Damir Miholić, PhD
• Brigita Vilč, assistant
• Natalija Vrbas Novak, univ. mag. rehab. educ.

Associates:

• Ivana Vinceković, univ. mag. rehab. educ
• Margareta Vidmar, spec.psychotr., mag. rehab. educ.

Supporting people with motor disorders requires a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that considers the complexity of their needs. Individuals with motor disorders often experience not only primary difficulties but also associated challenges, such as sensory, perceptual-motor, and speech-language impairments, which further reduce their functional abilities, emotional regulation, and quality of social interactions. In this context, expressive art-therapies – using music, visual arts, movement, dance, drama, and literary texts – offer a therapeutic approach that enables symbolic and creative expression of emotions, processing of traumatic experiences, identity development, and the strengthening of control and self-esteem. However, their effectiveness may be limited if therapeutic approaches are not adapted to the individual psychophysical limitations and needs of users. Therefore, the aim of this project is to examine the impact of digital and assistive technology on the effectiveness of expressive art-therapies for individuals with motor disorders, in accordance with their specific psychophysical functioning, psycho-emotional needs, and individual preferences for some artistic media. Project activities include analysing the psychosocial needs of users and the various applications of digital and assistive technologies; searching for, selecting, procuring, and adapting digital and assistive technologies; designing and implementing therapeutic protocols; evaluating outcomes; and disseminating results. In addition, practice-oriented recommendations are planned through the development of a website, a platform for searching for and acquiring digital and assistive equipment, online manuals, webinars, and workshops for users, professionals, and family members. Finally, the project aims to promote creative expression and digital literacy, encompassing a broader social dimension of empowerment and inclusion for people with motor disorders, and potentially for individuals with other types of disabilities.