Learning Technologies for People with Mild Intellectual Disabilities. From Digital Exclusion to Inclusive E-education in Network Society

Abstract

The research focuses on the issue of learning technologies for people with mild intellectual disabilities. The analysis carried out is grounded in the theses of the network society. The initial objectives addressed three main issues: analysis of risks of digital exclusion of people with mild intellectual disabilities in highly technological developed societies; a conceptual view of learning technologies as tools to support social inclusion; and the importance of creating accessible e-learning environments to support inclusive e-education for people with mild intellectual disabilities. The authors used the analytical and descriptive method on the basis of the chosen literature sources to draw the conceptual view of functions of learning technologies in network society. The paper is structured as follows: introduction; analysis of theoretical background of network society to understand the need to go beyond technology to understand contemporary digital disparities; the overview of learning technologies for inclusive e-education for individuals at risk of digital exclusion, the research conclusions and directions for future research.