Intellectual Disability, Identity, and the Internet

Abstract

This chapter provides insight into the nature of online engagement by people with intellectual disabilities, the extent and quality of this engagement in terms of the access that people have, and how people with intellectual disabilities present themselves in the online world. The authors of this chapter provide an overview of the extant literature on intellectual disability, identity, and the Internet. The chapter begins by outlining issues around Internet use and access by people with intellectual disabilities, including potential barriers. It then moves on to address online behaviour and the potential benefits of Internet use for people with intellectual disabilities. The chief focus of the chapter follows, describing the manner in which computer mediated communication affects how people with intellectual disabilities present themselves in the online world as well as considering the role that family members and supporters play in the development and management of people’s online identities. Finally, the chapter introduces future directions for research into intellectual disability, identity, and the Internet.

How does risk mediate the ability of adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live a normal life by using the Internet?

“…( Moisey & van de Keere, 2007, p. 78) Despite this identification, disability tends to be treated as a homogenous group within mainstream digital inclusion research, which means that IDD are rarely specifically focused upon (Chadwick et al, 2012). This invisibility is concerning and raises important questions regarding whether people with IDD are being denied a 'normal' life and whether they are able to exercise the same human rights as non-disabled people.…”

“…In light of this, drawing on our expertise and knowledge of the field, we have tried to be as inclusive as possible in the literature we have included in our review. The papers cited therefore present and synthesise the material gathered as part of previous reviews that the authors have conducted (see for example Seale, 2014;Chadwick, Fullwood, & Wesson, 2012;Chadwick, Wesson, & Fullwood, 2013) and more recent conference papers, journal papers and book chapters located through searching broad databases such as Scopus and ResearchGate. The review also includes work that describes practice as well as more empirically based work.…”

Internet Access by People with Intellectual Disabilities: Inequalities and Opportunities

“…Finally, a recent smaller study of 122 disabled individuals in China, confirmed the digital divide that exists, with only a minority of people with disabilities having Internet access [37]. As these surveys have failed to discriminate between physical and intellectual disabilities, it is difficult to ascertain how specific types of impairment may influence use and access to the Internet [38,39]. Moreover, such studies sometimes fail to draw a distinction between opportunity of access and actual use of the Internet.…”

“…In this sense, two distinct questions should be posed: are opportunities for access available to individuals with ID (i.e., do they have access to a computer that is enabled for use online), and if they are, do they actually take advantage of these opportunities, either autonomously or with support? [38].…”

Comparación de las percepciones de los estudiantes de magisterio sobre los riesgos de internet para personas con y sin discapacidad intelectual y del desarrollo

“…Concretamente, Internet ofrece a este colectivo mayores oportunidades de interacción social, participación, educación, trabajo y desarrollo de la identidad, entre otras (Chadwick, Fullwood, & Wesson, 2013). Sin embargo, junto a estas ventajas, Internet puede también comportar una serie de riesgos que, en algunos casos, pueden ser percibidos como mayores para las personas con IDD.…”