“That is how I speak nowadays” – experiences of remote communication among persons with communicative and cognitive disabilities

Abstract

Better access to remote communication trough assistive technology such as speech synthesis and picture symbols would make remote communication easier and facilitate participation for people with communicative and cognitive disabilities. Implications for rehabilitation People with communicative and cognitive disabilities face challenges with access to remote communication. Access to communication technology including remote communication is important for self-determination, for personal safety and for overall participation in society. Communication technology should be considered in the rehabilitation process and training is crucial. To understand the possible benefits of remote communication, people with communicative and cognitive disability need to get the possibility to practice. Professionals play a key role in the assessment and intervention of remote communication for their patients.

Support persons’ views on remote communication and social media for people with communicative and cognitive disabilities

“…The participants describe the importance of functioning remote communication for safety issues which is in line with the results of a previous study [14]. Buchholz et al [3] interviewed persons with communicative and cognitive disabilities and results showed that only a few had managed to ask for help by using remote communication. This is alarming in terms of safety.…”

“…Managing independent remote communication can make a difference regarding the possibility to develop social contacts, meaningful activities and interests, and a meaning in life. Independent remote communication becomes more important in the transition to adulthood which was also found in a previous study [3]. The finding that remote communication can compensate for physical, cognitive, and social limitations has also been described by others.…”

“…Research is needed on what aspects of remote communication that are important to develop and how obstacles to remote communication could be overcome [3,[17][18][19][20]. People with communicative and cognitive disabilities may not have much experience of remote communication and can therefore have difficulties in discussing future needs of development, which was the case in the previous study with the users themselves [3]. They often need support in daily life activities.…”

“…To gather new knowledge, the persons themselves must be involved in the research. This was done in a previous study that described the importance of remote communication for self-determination and participation in daily life, but also pointed to significant barriers to the use of remote communication [3]. In this study, we want to expand the knowledge on how to overcome the barriers and therefor support persons were involved to get their views and perspectives.…”

“…In a previous study, persons who used AAC and had difficulties to read and write described the importance but also barriers to remote communication. Not being able to speak intelligibly in combination with reading-and writing difficulties caused problems in both spoken (like phoneor video-calls) and written (texting, e-mail, messaging, chat) remote communication, leaving no well-functioning alternative for the users [3].…”