The Possibility of Role-taking Ability Training with a Digital Picture Book for Children with Developmental Disabilities

―A Pilot Study in Special Needs Class―

Abstract

　We conducted training designed to improve the role-taking ability of a schoolboy from a special needs class. We used a digital picture book loaded onto a tablet device in this research, and verified the effects of the training. The child participated in 5 training sessions, spanning five consecutive days. Though only a pilot study, three effects were confirmed; 1) the subject showed improvement by one step in the developmental stage of role-taking ability; 2) the child displayed a positive change in behaviors in response to the teacher’s free description; 3) the subject’s participation in the training was independent.