Mainstream Technologies in Facilities for People With Intellectual Disabilities: Multiple-Methods Study Using the Nonadoption, Abandonment, Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability Framework

Abstract

Background People with intellectual disabilities in residential or outpatient facilities for people with disabilities run the risk of being digitally excluded by not having opportunities for taking advantage of digitalization possibilities. Objective We aimed to investigate how disability caregivers and managers describe barriers and facilitating factors to implement and adopt mainstream technology for people with intellectual disabilities in residential or outpatient facilities and how the competencies and capabilities of the caregivers are assessed in the process. Methods For this reason, we conducted a multiple-methods study applying the nonadoption, abandonment, scale-up, spread, and sustainability framework. Results As a result, we identified barriers and facilitators across the nonadoption, abandonment, scale-up, spread, and sustainability framework domains: (1) condition—people with intellectual disabilities are a diverse group, where the individual condition of the person and, for example, their communication skills were seen as a prerequisite for implementing mainstream technologies; (2) technology—the extent to which mainstream technology fits the individual needs and demands contributed to the implementation process; (3) value proposition—communication was seen as a life area where mainstream technology can add value; (4) adopters—the caregivers needed competencies and capabilities to accompany their care recipients’ technology use; (5) organization—missing legal regulations and lack of personnel resources were described as barriers; (6) wider context—funding opportunities were seen as unclear in disability services as mainstream technologies could not be financed as participation benefits; (7) embedding and adaptation over time—the COVID-19 pandemic forced facilities to become digitalized to some extent. Conclusions The disability services investigated were still in need of standardized procedures to promote the digital participation of their residents.