To build an EmpowerED mobile application prototype with an interactive AI chatbot offering ease of navigation, peer connections, content moderation and accessibility support to users to:

· Provide accessible, on-demand support for users with developmental disabilities.

· Reduce barriers to resources by offering conversational guidance.

· Foster independence while ensuring a safe and supportive digital environment.

Project Deliverables

EmpowerED Prototype

· A functional and test-able prototype of the EmpowerED application

Chatbot design

· The base design and programming codes used in creation of the AI chatbot.

· Any conversation flows and sample dialogues used to train the chatbot.

MVP chatbot integrated into EmpowerED app prototype

· The AI chatbot should be easily integrated into the EmpowerED app and should be test-able by staff and users.

Phase I: Kick-off

Week 1 (Sept 22 – Sept 28): Project Setup & Research (~8 hours)

· Meet with Project Sponsor and Lead, finalize project scope & chatbot objectives

· Begin researching AI chatbot frameworks (Dialogflow, Rasa, GPT-based APIs, etc.)

· Begin drafting conversation flows (FAQs, resource guidance, simple support)

Phase II: Initial Development

Week 2 (Sept 29 – Oct 5): Conversation Design & Prototype Setup (~8 hours)

· Create initial scripts (FAQ answers, supportive phrases)

· Set up a development environment (VS Studio, cloud etc.)

· Begin building a basic chatbot prototype (text-based interaction)

Week 3 (Oct 6 – Oct 12): Core Development (~10 hours)

· Train the chatbot with initial intents/responses

· Add resource navigation features (chatbot links to guides/resources in the app)

· Implement accessibility basics (large text, text-to-speech, colour adjustments etc.)

Week 4 (Oct 13 – Oct 19): Integration & Feature Expansion (~10 hours)

· Integrate chatbot prototype into EmpowerED app framework

· Add safety features (AI usage disclaimers, escalation to human support if needed)

· Test basic usability to ensure everything operates

Week 5 (Oct 20 – Oct 26): User Testing & Refinement (~8 hours)

· Conduct small-scale user testing (could be Resilient Hearts staff members or participants)

· Collect feedback on accessibility, tone, and usefulness

· Refine conversation flows and UI design as needed

Phase III: Final Development

Week 6 (Oct 27 – Nov 2): Final Development & Optimization (~10 hours)

· Optimize chatbot responses (clarity, supportive tone)

· Fix bugs/issues from testing

· Prepare documentation (user guide, staff training notes)

Week 7 (Nov 3 – Nov 9): Pre-Launch Testing (~4 hours)

· Conduct final round of internal testing

· Ensure chatbot runs reliably and safely and that all features are functional

Week 8 (Nov 10 – Nov 15): Launch & Wrap-Up (~2 hours)

· Finalize the integration of MVP chatbot in EmpowerED app

· Submit final deliverables (project reports, documentation etc.)

· Conduct a virtual demo with the Resilient Hearts team through an interactive walk-through presentation to highlight key features and limitations of the chatbot.