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Internet access and IT skills in adults with intellectual disability in Queensland
Conference poster

Internet access and IT skills in adults with intellectual disability in Queensland

Sarah Glencross, Jonathan Mason and Mary Katsikitis
USC Research Showcase, 2017 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 12-Jul-2017)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2017
url
https://www.usc.edu.au/media/19139453/usc-research-showcase-a4-program_mcb-606_web.pdfView
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Abstract

Specialist Studies in Education Psychology
Rapid growth in internet usage and the prevalence of websites has meant that access to web content is increasingly important for communication, community engagement, and the use of services such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It has been argued that individuals who do not use the internet due to lack of physical access or skill are at risk of becoming a 'web underclass' who are disadvantaged socially, economically, and civically. This disadvantage is potentially compounded for individuals who already experience a lack of control and opportunity in their everyday lives such as those with intellectual disability (ID). ID is characterised by deficits in general mental abilities such as reasoning, problem solving, and planning. People with ID experience impairments in adaptive functioning which hinder their ability to meet normative standards of personal independence and social responsibility. A person's level of adaptive functioning can be influenced by factors such as intellectual capability, motivation, and coexisting medical conditions or mental disorders. Consequently, individual needs vary greatly and even when people with ID have physical access to the internet it cannot be assumed they can effectively access content in a way which is equitable with other users. The present research will examine the experience of a representative group of adults with ID in Queensland as they use the internet to access a service. It is intended that the research will indicate the proportion of individuals with ID who have physical access to the internet and the proportion who have the necessary skills to access a website. The research will also focus on participants' ability to create and memorise a password and the extent to which their attitudes towards the internet can be used to predict their internet usage, these findings will inform the design of future training programs for people with ID.

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