An app developed by McGill researchers is helping families find inclusive activities for children with disabilities.

The Jooay app, created by Prof. Keiko Shikako and Prof. Annette Majnemer, is a free platform that connects users with information on inclusive sports, arts programs, camps and other recreational opportunities in their community.

Since launching in 2015, Jooay has grown to more than 6,000 users, with information on nearly 4,000 activities across every province and territory. This week, Jooay is rolling out an update that introduces gamified features designed to make using the app more engaging for young people with disabilities, parents, clinicians and educators.

Developed through doctoral research led by Ebrahim Mahmoudi, the update is informed by behaviour change theory to support more participation in leisure. It includes customizable avatars that reflect diverse abilities, rewards for participation milestones and goal-setting tools that turn planning to participate into a fun challenge.

Shikako and Mahmoudi are available for interviews in English and French to discuss the importance of inclusive play, the barriers to participation in community leisure and play that many families face and solutions that help make recreational activities more accessible for all.