Why aren't you on Facebook?: Patterns and experiences of using the Internet among young people with physical disabilities

Abstract

There has been an explosive growth in the use of the Internet as a social networking tool and as a major venue for leisure and recreation among children and young people. It is not known whether children with disabilities are using the new medium for similar purposes. The aim of this project was to investigate the current patterns and frequency of Internet use and its impact, facilitators and barriers to use by children and young people with physical disabilities. Fifteen participants with physical disabilities with a mean age of 14.6 years were interviewed exploring the above issues. The research found the young people who participated in this study used the Internet for a variety of purposes and friends played a key role in teaching them Internet skills as well as interacting with them online. Family resources and the computer/Internet literacy skills of parents were significant factors influencing usage. The findings suggest the need for further research involving a larger cohort of children and young people with varying abilities, especially those who are currently not using the Internet, to explore reasons for not using the Internet, and to identify the supports required to increase access and participation.

“Social Media has Opened a World of ‘Open communication:’” experiences of Adults with Cerebral Palsy who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Social Media

“…These barriers may result from both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Prior research suggests that the most commonly identifi ed barriers for adolescents and young adults with complex communication needs learning to use social media are the lack of well-developed literacy skills and technology supports (Hynan et al, 2014;Raghavendra et al, 2012). In contrast, the older participants in the present study all had well-developed language and literacy skills; they primarily highlighted intrinsic and extrinsic barriers related to access diffi culties (e.g., limited motor skills), their slow rate during online synchronous communication (e.g., interactions via Google Talk 21 ), and technology limitations (e.g., problems with their AAC devices, poorly designed display layouts, limited accessibility of social media sites, and diffi culties connecting their AAC devices with social media sites).…”

“…There is a growing body of research about disabilities and social media use (e.g., Baker, Bricout, Moon, Coughlan, & Pater, 2013;Barnfather, Stewart, Magill-Evans, Ray, & Letourneau, 2011;Lewis, 2010;Shpigelman & Gill, 2014), yet currently there is very limited research investigating whether individuals with complex communication needs use social media sites for communication, social participation, leisure, and learning opportunities. Raghavendra and colleagues, through interviews of 15 adolescents (4 with CCN, M age ϭ 14.6), found the Internet was used for a variety of reasons, including: emailing, instant messaging sites, social networking sites (e.g., Facebook) and gaming (Raghavendra et al, 2012). The participants highlighted the benefi ts of using social networking and that friends/siblings played a signifi cant role in supporting the set-up of social networking sites.…”

“…DeBell and Chapman (2006) reported reduced Internet use within groups of young people with disabilities in comparison to non-disabled peers. Raghavendra, Wood, Newman, and Lawry (2012) carried out qualitative interviews with 15 children with disabilities and found the Internet was used for a variety of purposes, but the extent and frequency of use was lower than for peers without disabilities. Internet access remains unequally distributed, as individuals living with disabilities do not engage in networked society at the same rate as individuals without disabilities.…”

‘I could never do that before’: effectiveness of a tailored Internet support intervention to increase the social participation of youth with disabilities

“…; Raghavendra et al . ). Today's youth with disabilities are also part of the ‘Net Generation’ who benefit socially and educationally by participating in multi‐modal, collaborative and connected activities (Tapscott et al .…”

Augmentative and Alternative Communication Systems

“…Parents also indicated that they have to become strong advocates for their child to receive necessary services (Goldbart & Marshall, 2004). Raghavendra et al (2012) investigated the current patterns and frequency of Internet use by young people with disabilities who had a mean age of 14.6. They found that CASE STUDY 16-4…”