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The use of ICT by adults with learning disabilities in day and residential services
Author(s) -
Parsons Sarah,
Daniels Harry,
Porter Jill,
Robertson Christopher
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
british journal of educational technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.79
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1467-8535
pISSN - 0007-1013
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8535.2005.00516.x
Subject(s) - information and communications technology , mainstream , inclusion (mineral) , service (business) , government (linguistics) , public relations , population , psychology , learning disability , business , medical education , knowledge management , sociology , computer science , marketing , political science , medicine , world wide web , social psychology , developmental psychology , linguistics , philosophy , demography , law
The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) by adults with learning disabilities has been positively promoted over the past decade. More recently, policy statements and guidance from the UK government have underlined the importance of ICT for adults with learning disabilities specifically, as well as for the population in general, through the potential it offers for social inclusion. The aim of the present study was to provide a picture of how ICT is currently being used within one organisation providing specialist services for adults with learning disabilities and more specifically to provide a picture of its use in promoting community participation. Nine day and 14 residential services were visited as part of a qualitative study to answer three main questions: What kinds of computer programs are being used? What are they being used for? Does this differ between day and residential services? Computers and digital cameras were used for a wide range of activities and ‘mainstream’ programs were used more widely than those developed for specific user groups. In day services, ICT was often embedded in wider projects and activities, whilst use in houses was based around leisure interests. In both contexts, ICT was being used to facilitate communication, although this was more linked to within‐service activities, rather than those external to service provision.