By Sanorah Eldred

It is no secret that the PRIDE fund (President’s Research, Innovation, and Development towards Excellence fund), given out by president Porter, is a very esteemed award given to projects that aim to create pathways to innovation, develop new partnerships and experiences, and to help develop community partnerships for regional issues. One of the most recent projects funded by the PRIDE grant is called the DIY Family Planner Android & iPhone App Research Project. The project has been spearheaded by Lindenwood professor Dr. Rebecca Panagos, and research her assistants, including recent master’s graduate Rhea D’Souza, and current students Shrraddha Belbase, Pheobe Mussman, Henrique Dos Reis, and Alison Paris. The project is also supported by the marketing team, led by Dr. Kyle Cobalt, which includes Lindenwood students Paige Miller, Marco Naegele, Naoki Oe, and Preston Whistler.

The DIY Family Planner Android & iPhone App Research Project was developed as a potential solution for the disconnect between parents of children with developmental deficiencies and the support that they need. Throughout the research project, the research team has developed an iPhone app with the goal of making finding treatment easier for people in the community. The main goal for the research team is to continue working on updating the app while also implementing it into the real world. By doing so, the team is able to see what works for real people who would benefit from the project. Along with that, the marketing team works on providing a groundwork for the plan to market the App. They pay special attention to segmentation and recruitment strategies, as well as providing recommendations for the B2B/B2G transfer of control that will enable the app to live in the world.

With the PRIDE grant, the research team has been able to accomplish much more than had previously been possible. The first of these abilities includes allowing two research assistants, Shraddha and Rhea, and Dr. Panagos to present at the National Council for Exceptional Children’s LIVE Conference.  In addition to this, the PRIDE grant has funded student employee salary for App development and IT support, supplies and materials, field testing research protocol for the research team video conference observations of live home visits and remote data collection, collaboration between teams, and much more.

As their research continues, both teams will continue to work together to further develop their research. With the new funding and increased opportunities, the Family Planner App, and those who helped make it possible are able to continue their work and continue doing good things for the community as a whole. When asked about the support the research team has received from Lindenwood, research assistant Shrraddha Belbase said, “Getting to work on campus in my field of study while also working on my degree at the same time was the best thing that could have ever happened to me while I was in college. Building an Iphone app was something I had never done before. I don’t think it would have been possible without the support and encouragement I received from Dr. Panagos. I am extremely grateful that through Dr. Panagos and Lindenwood University I got this opportunity.” Her words are evidence of the impact that such a positive research project has on both the subjects, and the researchers equally. The Lindenwood Community is excited to see what will come next for the DIY Family Planner Android & iPhone App Research Project, as well as the future careers of the research team and marketing members that help make it possible.