Assessing the impact of AI tools on mobility and daily assistance for children with down syndrome in Saudi Arabia

This mixed-methods study investigated the impact of AI-powered assistive technology on mobility, communication, and daily living assistance in children with Down syndrome in Saudi Arabia. We looked at information from 123 carers (47 who used AI and 76 who did not) with similar child backgrounds through structured surveys and seven detailed interviews, using careful statistical methods and thorough initial assessments. AI users found it much easier to do things compared to those who didn't use AI, showing a medium improvement in moving around (Cohen's d = 0.65) and communicating (d = 0.72) and a large improvement in household tasks (d = 0.83). Among AI users only, perceived effectiveness was rated moderately high for daily independence (M = 3.85, SD = 0.93) and mobility (M = 3.78, SD = 1.18). Seven interviewed carers reported subjective stress reduction when children used AI tools independently. This secondary benefit extends the impact of AI beyond direct child outcomes to broader family well-being. Primary barriers to adoption included financial constraints (74.46%), insufficient technical support (38.29%), and technology adaptation difficulties (31.91%). Cultural perceptions and the absence of Arabic-localised AI solutions pose additional challenges that align with the global patterns identified in cross-cultural research. Although we did not directly test cross-cultural comparisons, this study suggests that Saudi Arabia's adoption barriers may share similarities with international patterns. Policy recommendations include establishing government subsidies covering 60-80% of AI tool costs, mandating insurance coverage, creating regional AI support centres, and prioritising the development of culturally adapted Arabic language solutions.