YOUNG AND DIGITAL
Organizer: Helena Hemmingsson, Professor, Department of Social and Welfare Studies Linköping
University [email protected]
Sylvia Söderström, Associate professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Norway [email protected]
Abstract:
One of the biggest social changes of our time has been the digitizing of nearly all areas of everyday life
– both in the privacy of our homes and in the world of education, work and commerce. Young people
today are often thought of as the ‘digital generation’, meaning that they are growing up in a world
where life is permeated with digital processes and solutions. Their experience of digital computer
technology and internet starts at a very young age and Internet are integrated into many major
aspects of their lives, in particular their social lives.
This symposium session comprises current research projects from Sweden and Norway about young
people with impairments and their access to and use of digital information and communication
technologies (ICT) in everyday life. The presentations represent a variety of research questions and
methodological approaches and provide examples of current Nordic research in the area.
The following five presentations are included: One presentation will explore the implementation
process of ICT in a Norwegian municipal housing service for young adults with intellectual disabilities
by field observations and qualitative group interviews with housing services providers. Another
presentation describes and discusses methodological concerns and adaptations when researching
internet use among young people with intellectual disabilities by observations and surveys. A
literature review reports the use of ICT in service provider’s collaboration with young disabled people
in their transitions to adulthood. Based on survey data, internet activities and activity repertoire
during leisure among adolescents with ADHD is compared with a reference group and interrelations
between traditional leisure activities and Internet activities is explored. Finally, in focus groups
interviews young people with psychic impairments describe their experiences regarding online
gaming; what motivates them to play and what role the games are playing in their lives.
The individual presentations will be the point of departure for discussion and the audience will be
invited to share their experiences and contribute to the discussion.
Digital communication and young disabled people in transitions
Author: Janne Marita Alvestad Liaaen, PhD candidate, Norwegian University of Science and
Technology (NTNU) [email protected]
Background: Research show that young disabled people encounter more and different challenges in
their transitions to adult life than young non-disabled people encounter. This is especially challenges
related to receiving services, such as type and amount of help and support provided by health- and
social services, education- and vocational services. Habilitation programs for young disabled people
are expected to ensure collaboration between the different service systems. However, this is found
to be quite limited. This presentation takes its point of departure in a phd study of the significance of
digital information and communication technologies (ICT) in young disabled people`s collaboration
with service providers during the transition to adulthood. The presentation will investigate; What is
the knowledge status about the significance of ICT in young disabled people`s collaboration with
service providers in their transition to adulthood?
Method: The presentation draws on a literature study on the subject, focusing on young people with
bodily impairments and their transitions between specialized healthcare services and municipal
healthcare services, and between pediatric services and adult services. Attention will especially be
drawn to the knowledge status of the role and potential of ICT in these transitions, and of the young
disabled people`s own perspectives on collaborations during the transitions.
Result: The presentation will illuminate and discuss updated knowledge in this field.
Conclusion: The conclusion will highlight possibilities and challenges in implementing ICT as means of
collaboration in young disabled people`s transition phases.
Exploring internet-use among young persons with intellectual disabilities - methodological
approaches and considerations
Author: Kristin Alfredsson Ågren, PhD student Linköping University, Department of Social and
Welfare Studies, Division of Occupational Therapy [email protected]
Background: Internet-use is an integral part of everyday life today. There is a possibility that it could
play an important role for young person’s with intellectual disabilities to enable participation in
different areas of everyday life. In order to explore internet-use from the young person’s own
perspective, different methodological approaches must be developed to meet different needs of
cognitive adaptations to enable their inclusion.
Aim: The aim of this paper is to describe methodological approaches and considerations for
exploring internet-use among young persons with intellectual disabilities.
Method: Methodological approaches were identified and decided upon. Varied forms of data
gathering methods and tools were developed, adapted and pilot-tested with different operators as
well as by possible participants themselves. Methodological considerations were described from the
experiences during the process.
Result: Both qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches were developed and tested to
gather data. Field observations were used together with follow-up interviews. A questionnaire was
developed, both web-based and in paper-form, and tested in adapted versions in accordance with
different needs of cognitive support. Methodological considerations were highlighted when
developing the approaches and throughout the implementation process.
Conclusion: Internet-use can be explored from the perspective of young person’s with intellectual
disabilities themselves with creative development and adaptation of different methodological
approaches and with careful planning of the implementation process. Both Pros and Cons with the
used approaches and the considerations made are discussed.
Young people with intellectual disabilities and digital communication
Author: Sylvia Söderström, Associate professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
(NTNU), Department of Medicine and Health Science, Institute of Nevromedicine and
Movementscience, [email protected]
Background: Information and communication technologies (ICT) have become a natural part of most
people`s everyday life. This is increasingly also the case for people with intellectual disabilities,
especially for young people with intellectual disabilities. Becoming young adults many of these
persons receive municipal housing services. However, use of ICT as part of these services is a relatively
new phenomenon. This presentation draws on an ongoing study of the implementation process of ICT
in a Norwegian municipal housing service for young adults with intellectual disabilities. The study`s
research question is; What significance do use of digital technologies hold for young people with
intellectual disabilities` opportunities in communication and in making choices?
Methods: The participants in the study is seven people with moderate intellectual disabilities, aged
18-27 years, and receiving housing services from the municipality. Data is collected using field
observations of everyday life in the participants` homes, field conversations, and qualitative group
interviews with housing services providers. A first round of data collection was done when ICT were
quite newly introduced as part of the housing services. The current presentation draws on this first
data collection. In order to capture the whole implementation process a second data collection will
be made a year after this first data collection.
Result: Preliminary findings illuminate how use of ICT may enhance opportunities in communication
and in making choices for young people with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, the preliminary
findings highlight some challenges in implementing new technology in municipal housing services.
Conclusion: Preliminary conclusion indicate that ICT may be a valuable aid in promoting mastery and
independence for young people with intellectual disabilities. However, implementing this technology
also requires dedicated management and employees.
Internet Activities During Leisure: A Comparison Between Adolescents With ADHD and
Adolescents From a Reference Group
Vedrana Bolic Baric, Department of Social and Welfare Studies, Linköping University, Norrköping,
Sweden, Norrköping, Email: [email protected]
Background: Adolescents’ leisure activities are increasingly focusing on Internet activities and today,
these co-exist with traditional leisure activities such as sport and meeting friends.
Aim: To investigate leisure activities, particularly Internet activities, among boys and girls with
attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and compare these to boys and girls from a
reference group. The aim was also to explore how traditional leisure activities and Internet activities
interrelate among adolescents with ADHD.
Method: Adolescents with ADHD (n=102) were compared to adolescents from reference group on
leisure activities and Internet use. Data was collected using a questionnaire focusing on leisure
activities and information and communication technology (ICT) use in leisure. Results: The findings
show that in comparison with adolescents from the reference group, adolescents with ADHD were
less frequently involved in a variety of traditional leisure activities such as meeting with friends,
sports, and acting/dancing. Leisure activities among adolescents with ADHD tended to focus on
Internet activities, particularly online games and visiting communities. A factor analysis revealed that
some activities on the Internet such as using the Internet to access online information were
performed without abandoning traditional ways of performing the same activity, such as reading
books/newspapers.
The results indicate that Internet activities were broadening leisure activities among adolescents
with ADHD, rather than being a substitute for traditional leisure activities. Furthermore, the Internet
was used among adolescents with ADHD for interaction and communication with others through
communities, chats, and e-mail.
Conclusion: Internet activities may serve primarily as a broadening of adolescents’ leisure activities,
rather than as a replacement of traditional leisure activities. There is a need to discuss how Internet
activities might provide adolescents with ADHD with accessible means of social interaction where
individuals can interact with others.
Voices about online gaming from youth with psychic impairments
Author: Magnus Wiberg, Linköping University, [email protected]
Background: There has been national surveys conducted over the last couple of years that pay
specific attention to online gaming habits of Swedish youth. There are, however, few studies with
respect to youth with different kinds of impairments. The aim of this study is to provide space to
young people with psychic impairments to describe their experiences regarding online gaming; what
motivates them to play and what role the games are playing in their lives.
Method: In line with the descriptive research design, focus group interviews were considered the
best alternative. The selection criteria for the participants was that they would have to acknowledge
themselves as a person with a psychic impairment, be between 18 and 30 years old, and play online
games to some extent. A thematic analysis was conducted by looking for recurring patterns in the
material. The material from the interviews was treated as stories or narratives in accordance with
the constructivist approach adopted for this study.
Results: Four focus group interview sessions were conducted. One theme that emerged and
frequently recurred was about stories about a personal history of letting the games take over their
lives completely and with that the negative consequences that followed. Another theme that
emerged both within groups and among the different groups was the need for playing their online
games. The act of playing the games or “gaming” were regarded as something that held them
together, both individually but also in a greater social context. A life without the games would be an
ominous reality which was speculatively associated with both graver psychic illness and a severely
deteriorated well-being.
Conclusions: The young participants of this study give a rather complex picture of their relation to
their online games. Many of them know the negative sides of the games but still appreciate the
opportunity of the games because they enable them to experience more aspects of everyday life.