Feature Issue on Loneliness and People with Intellectual, Developmental, and Other Disabilities

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Studies suggest technology, particularly artificial intelligence, could be a potential solution for addressing loneliness. Recently, Japanese company OriHime (Orylab, Inc.) created avatar robots that can assist individuals with disabilities who are transitioning to adulthood to virtually attend social and other events. Pilots, or individuals with disabilities operating these robots remotely, used the robots to work as servers, greeters, baristas, and in other roles. Preliminary results suggest the pilots experienced increased social connections, both with each other and with customers. They also expressed a sense of being valued and fulfilled by the experience. Technology is not a single solution, however, and should never be seen as a way to discourage people with disabilities from participating in person in their communities.

Emerging studies indicate that individuals with disabilities experience higher levels of loneliness compared to those without disabilities. Work by Eric Emerson in the Disability and Health Journal, (10.1016/j.dhjo.2020.100965), Catherine Ispen & Meredith Repke in the Disability and Health Journal, (10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101220), Jessica Merrells and colleagues in the Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability (https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2017.1310822), and Sally Robinson & Jan Idle in the Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, (10.3109/13668250.2022.2112510) have noted this disparity.

Loneliness, which differs from solitude, is a complex psychological phenomenon that can decrease one’s quality of life. Experiencing loneliness or social isolation can pose significant health risks, including heart diseases, mental health issues, and even a shorter life expectancy, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/risk-factors/index.html). Knowledge about loneliness among individuals with disabilities, however, especially those with intellectual and/or developmental (IDD), remains limited. Recent studies, including one by Emma M. Kirwan in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology (https://bit.ly/42G74aB), have shown that loneliness is prevalent among transition-age youth, and that experiencing loneliness during this developmental stage is associated with psychological distress later in life. Despite the growing awareness of youth mental health, resources addressing loneliness, particularly for youth with disabilities, have been underrecognized. Transitioning into adulthood is a critical phase for youth with disabilities, requiring support to foster self-advocacy, self-determination, and independence, as stated on the U.S. Department of Labor website (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/odep/program-areas/individuals/youth/transition/federal-partners). This indicates that youth with disabilities require additional support to combat loneliness and ensure a successful transition into adulthood.

High school students are interviewed via avatar robots by their local business employers.

An increasing number of studies suggest that technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), could be a potential solution for addressing loneliness. Many of these studies focus on loneliness among the elderly or elderly individuals with disabilities, such as work by Ya-Huei Wu and colleagues in the Journal of Applied Gerontology (10.1177/0733464813515092). A recent study conducted in Germany by Melisa Conde in the International Journal of Social Robotics (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12369-024-01143-z) utilized a telepresence robot, with a small group of aging adults and reported some positive attitudes towards the use of technology. There is still limited research on advanced technology aimed at alleviating loneliness for younger individuals with disabilities, however. The current article will explore how using advanced technology can potentially reduce loneliness for individuals, especially youth, with disabilities.

Although loneliness is a complex and multifaceted issue, a 2023 systematic review of loneliness conceptualization in the Frontiers in Psychology (https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1040651) identified protective factors against loneliness in individuals with disabilities. These factors include having a job or living in an environment free from physical barriers. The study also reviewed various interventions for alleviating loneliness in individuals with disabilities, such as social skills training and increased social interactions, which align with strategies used to support individuals without disabilities experiencing loneliness.

A high school student participates in a school trip remotely with the support of OriHime, the avatar robot, looking out the window of Kyoto Tower.

OriHime (OryLab, Inc.) of Tokyo, Japan created avatar robots that can serve as tools to assist individuals with disabilities in reducing loneliness and supporting their transition to adulthood. The robots were initially designed as communication devices, allowing individuals who cannot physically attend social events due to disabilities or health issues to connect with others, thereby alleviating their loneliness. Individuals operating these robots remotely, known as pilots, have used the robots to work as servers, greeters, baristas, and more at Café Dawn, which is owned and operated by OryLab. Visiting OryLab with my research collaborators, we interviewed young adult pilots with physical disabilities and mental health issues who work remotely for the café. This preliminary study (manuscript in progress) revealed that the pilots experienced increased communication and social connectedness, both with each other and their customers, since beginning their work with the avatar robots. They also expressed a sense of being valued and fulfilled through the experience of training junior pilots, something they had never encountered before. Overall, they reported satisfaction with their lives and advocated for greater opportunities for individuals with disabilities and a more inclusive society.

Combining robotics and artificial intelligence has been studied as a potential solution for alleviating loneliness to some extent, and this could be further explored for transition-age youth. Studies exploring this combination have been described in multiple articles in the International Journal of Social Robotics (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12369-024-01157-7) , (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12369-021-00781-x), (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12369-024-01143-z), A special school in Hiroshima, Japan, has adopted technology in various ways to support students with disabilities, particularly those facing challenges during school trips and field experiences. Classmates are given the responsibility of carrying OriHime robots, enabling their peers to experience trips remotely, which helps them share meaningful opportunities in the same physical environment through the avatar robots. The same school also utilizes OriHime robots for students’ career and vocational education, conducting interviews with local businesses and employers via these avatar robots.

The exploration of advanced technology for individuals with disabilities warrants further investigation, especially given the current advancements in AI technology. We still need to explore the importance of connecting individuals with one another. This connection can be especially supportive for people with disabilities, helping to alleviate loneliness and providing meaningful social engagement that enhances their lives in ways they desire. However, as Zohar Lederman pointed out in a 2022 article in Bioethics, (10.1111/bioe.13096 ) while technological solutions are undoubtedly a part of addressing loneliness, they cannot and should not be seen as the sole solution. And they should never be seen as a way to discourage people with disabilities from participating in their communities in person. Avatar robots like OriHime can be one solution that offers employment opportunities for youth with disabilities, foster a more inclusive society, and help alleviate feelings of loneliness. Our goal should be a society where inclusion is the norm. We should strive for a society where all individuals, regardless of disability, can participate with or without assistance from advanced technology.