Family members' reports of the technology use of family members with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Abstract

Implications of results for technology use of people with disabilities are discussed through the lens of frequency of use and needs for individuals with disabilities.

Bridging the digital divide for people with intellectual disability

“…Finally, despite the importance of this element, there is little documentation on the subject in the scientific literature, compared with the other dimensions presented below. This situation was previously noted by Chadwick et al (2013) and by Palmer et al (2012).…”

“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

“…The Internet can then be a "free zone," where parents and other adults have limited insight into the lives of young people. However, research has shown that family members are often the primary sources of support for new technology used among young people with intellectual disabilities (Palmer et al, 2012). Many times parents experience ambivalence when handling both technical and moral issues that come with an increased use of the Internet.…”

“…Parent's support is one way to lower the barriers for young people's safe participation on the Internet. Parents promote support in the form of cognitive social strategies that could help the young person to handle every-day situations on the Internet more adeptly in combination with a supportive parent or other family members (Palmer et al, 2012). To increase young people's participation in society in general, parents think that education in combination with developed technical tools and interface is essential.…”

“…However, research has shown that from time to time young persons with intellectual disabilities experience barriers when using the Internet and that they are in need of support (Caton & Chapman, 2016). Parents have been shown to be the primary source of support for young people in their everyday lives (Björquist, 2016;Palmer, Wehmeyer, Davies, & Stock, 2012). Previous research has mainly focused on parent support in every-day life; however, parents' role in their children's Internet use has received less attention, and -especially when it comes to parenthood and intellectual disabilities -this constitutes a gap in our knowledge.…”

Intellectual disability and computers in therapy: Views of service users and clinical psychologists

“…Successful involvement of carers also requires that the family has access to appropriate technology and training about how they can enable the children or adults with ID whom they look after to use this technology for therapeutic purposes (Palmer, Wehmeyer, Davies, & Stock, 2012).…”