Communication and Empowerment: A Place for Rich and Multiple Media?

Abstract

Environments) 1 was about exploring the terms on which young people with intellectual disability access and participate with e-Learning and the Web. The current study is one of a number of related studies. It explores the culture of information and communication technology (ICT) and the potential to support communication and empowerment. Materials and Methods Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 20 young people with intellectual disability. The interviews involved a low-technology, augmentative communication method called Talking Mats (Murphy & Cameron 2002).Findings Information and communication technology and rich and multiple media featured in the participants' narratives and contributed to self-concept and inclusive communication. Positive value was attributed to ICT options by many, although some difficulties were expressed with regard to operational aspects of the technology.Conclusions The lives of young people with intellectual disability provide a fertile culture for developments in this area, offering some new opportunities for communication and empowerment.

Internet Access by People with Intellectual Disabilities: Inequalities and Opportunities

“…From the preceding discussion it appears that the nature of computers and websites do not currently facilitate access for people with ID [69], but despite this, support can enable online access. At the most basic level, instruction in simple computer skills (e.g., how to use a mouse or navigate a webpage) can facilitate Internet usage for people with ID [32,39,90].…”

“…Bunning et al (2009) [69] found that some people with ID expressed difficulties using ICT related to operational aspects of the technology. The severity of cognitive impairment is also likely to be a key consideration.…”

“…The fact that many support workers perceive the Internet as a dangerous environment or one which may not be suitable for people with ID may suggest the need to educate or raise awareness amongst carers about the potential benefits of being online for the people with ID. What is also clear is that further research should focus on the manner in which specific impairments impact upon access and use of the Internet [32,52,69]. To date, most research in this area has considered the ID community as a very homogeneous group and certainly one would expect that the type and severity of one's impairment will be crucial in determining the specific types of support, intervention and training that are necessary to help someone get online and use the Internet safely and effectively.…”

“I’m a mother, but I’m also a facilitator in her every-day life”: Parents’ voices about barriers and support for internet participation among young people with intellectual disabilities

“…Research on how assistive technology can support and empower people with intellectual disabilities is a growing field (Bunning, Heath, & Minnion, 2009). Several studies show, for instance, how the adoption of certain mobile technology software and support programs can provide skill development and social participation (Darcy, Maxwell, & Green, 2016).…”

Can the Web Be Made Accessible for People with Intellectual Disabilities?

“…The few studies that do specifically address intellectual disability and accessibility are mostly published in specialist journals such as International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, or Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, further evidence that ID is its own specialized area, somewhat marginal from "mainstream" disability and accessibility studies. Some studies acknowledge that the Web holds much promise for people with ID (e.g., Bunning et al 2009), and others point out that even WCAG-compliant sites are inaccessible for this audience (e.g., Small et al 2005). Other studies identify accessibility issues for people with ID (Harrysson et al 2004) or accessibility solutions for ID audiences (Brown et al 2002;Karreman et al 2007).…”