Please read this document.

It shows that mobile technology can help pepole with intellectual disability to feel more included.

You can find the full article here:

https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au/doi/10.1111/jar.12869

What was the research study about?

We wanted to find out:

• What mobiles devices and apps are used on smart phones and other devices.

• Mobile devices are smart phones, tablets and laptops.

• Apps are applications on devices, such as a Facebook app, Google maps app.

• how things like age and gender make a difference

• who you are and
• how you use devices and apps
• impacts on how you feel included

In research we call this social inclusion. Social inclusion is about:

• relationships with other people

• participation in the community

Participation includes:

• work
• social activities

Social inclusion is about being connected with:

• family
• friends
• work

What we already know from research

Devices and apps can help with life skills

Some people with intellectual disabilities

• don’t have many friends
• feel lonely

Relationships of people with intellectual disabilities are made up of:

• family members
• workers

Who was in our research team?

The researchers were from:

• University of New South Wales
• Self Advocacy Sydney Inc
• Iva Strnadová and Julie Loblinzk
• Andrew Martin and Terry Cumming
• Joanne Danker

We also had 5 advisors from Self Advocacy Sydney.

• Peter Locker
• Joe Refalo
• Robert Strike
• Allan Gittoes
• Bruce O’Brien

We also had one independent advisor

• Sam Hurd

Who took part in this study?

114 people with intellectual disabilities

Half were female

About half of them receive a disability support pension

How did we do our research?

We developed an accessible survey.

People filled out the survey.

We reviewed answers people gave us.

What did we find out?

Finding 1

Participants who made their own decisions:

• what devices/apps they use
• how often they use them
• when they use them
• had positive connections with:
• family
• friends
• work/volunteering

Positive connections means to:

• stay in touch
• do things with others
• feel a sense of belonging

Why does it matter?

People need support to make decisions:

• what devices/apps they use
• how they use them
• when they use them

Finding 2

Participants who used devices/apps more often, had more positive connections with:

• family
• friends
• work/volunteering

Why does it matter?

If people use devices/apps more often, it increases:

• competence
• confidence

It helps to use devices/apps to make and keep social connections

Finding 3

Participants who used more devices/apps had more positive connections with:

• family
• friends

Why does it matter?

Using more than 1 or 2 apps helps connect people to:

• more family members
• more friends

Using only 1 or 2 apps means some relationships are:

• not possible
• more difficult to make and sustain

Finding 4

Older participants were more likely to make their own decisions about:

• what devices/apps they use
• how they use them
• when they use them

Older participants:

• needed more help to use mobile devices/apps
• used fewer devices/apps to connect with family and friends

This meant fewer social connections.

Why does it matter?

Many older people make their own decisions about using devices/apps.

They may need support about the best devices/apps to be socially connected.

Apps most commonly used:

With family:

• mobile phone voice calls (92%)
• text (78%)
• Facebook (60%)
• You Tube (32%)
• websites (27%)
• Facetime/Skype (26%)

With friends:

• mobile phone voice call (83%)
• text (75%)
• Facebook (58%)
• You Tube (26%)

At work:

• mobile phone voice call (64%)
• text (56%)
• Facebook (33%)
• websites (30%)