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Disabled Parents Network information briefings: no. 10 contacts and publications
- Author:
- DISABLED PARENTS NETWORK
- Publisher:
- Disabled Parents Network
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 51p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Information about organisations, publications and other resources that are highlighted for parentswith disabilities.
Using the Internet? The experiences of parents of disabled children
- Authors:
- BLACKBURN C., READ J.
- Journal article citation:
- Child: Care, Health and Development, 31(5), September 2005, pp.507-515.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper looks at parents of disabled children's experience of using the Internet. The study draws on a subset of data from the 'Carers Online' project, which took place between 2001 and 2003 in the UK. A cross-sectional survey of 3014 adult carers, of which 788 were carers of disabled children aged 0-17, was used. Data were collected using a postal questionnaire. A high proportion (75%) had previously used the Internet. Of these, 63% were frequent users and 91% were using it at home. Popular uses were emailing, obtaining information about caring, ordering equipment and shopping online. Despite positive benefits, users experienced problems relating to technical issues and equipment and system design. Lack of time owing to caring and other circumstances was an issue for over half of all users. Those who did not use the Internet were more likely to be living in rented accommodation, be unemployed and not have a PC at home. Reasons for not using the Internet included lack of access to equipment, cost and lack of skill. The authors conclude that for some parents the Internet is a viable and flexible medium for accessing useful information and services. However, caution about the extent to which it becomes the primary means for delivering information is needed. The 'digital divide' between users and non-users makes it crucial that issues of cost, lack of equipment and skill be addressed. Information needs to be made available in other forms to ensure that those who cannot or do not wish to use the Internet are not socially excluded.
Social security
- Author:
- VAUX Gary
- Journal article citation:
- Research Matters, 19, April 2005, pp.57-64.
- Publisher:
- Community Care
Looks at a series of reports which should help local authorities to form benefits policies for pensioners, disabled people and families. Highlights research from Age Concern, the National Audit Office and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Caught in a trap
- Authors:
- HARRISON Jill, WOOLEY Mark
- Journal article citation:
- Care and Health Magazine, 8.03.05, 2005, pp.28-29.
- Publisher:
- Care and Health
Reports on the findings of recent research which found that families with disabled children were much more likely to suffer high levels of indebtedness. In the research 836 families completed an online questionnaire on the Contact a Family website, while 1,007 families applying to the Family Fund completed a questionnaire at home. Summaries the findings and policy implications from the research.
Being there
- Authors:
- ANDERBERG Peter, JÖNSSON Bodil
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 20(7), December 2005, pp.719-733.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This article examines the use of the Internet as experienced by people with significant mobility/physical impairments who are accustomed to using computers. The study is based on interviews and focuses on computer usage in everyday action and interaction. Contact with the majority of participants was established through the Swedish Internet Centre in Tenerife, Spain. In many cases, the possibilities that the computer and Internet offer have meant not only important improvements in quality of life, but first-time occurrences of great personal significance. The analysis is phenomenographic, resulting in main categories and subcategories, illustrated primarily through direct quotations. The three main categories are independence, communication, and learning.
Reaching out: evaluation of health promotion website for children with disabilities and their families
- Authors:
- HERNANDEZ Virginia Rondero, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work in Disability and Rehabilitation, 4(1), 2005, pp.87-103.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This article describes how a state health authority in the USA capitalized on the increased popularity of the Internet among consumers by launching a website devoted to improving communication among persons interested in children with disabilities and their families. The health authority collaborated with a local school of social work to redesign the website using the family-centered model and evaluate its effectiveness. A sample of 51 respondents participated in the web-based survey. The article describes the process and methods of evaluation as well as the results of the survey to enhance feedback for the website's further development. Lessons learned for the design, development, and marketing of future websites are also covered. (Copies of this article are available from: Haworth Document Delivery Centre, Haworth Press Inc., 10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580).
A common open space or a digital divide?: a social model perspective on the online disability community in China
- Authors:
- GUO Baorong, BRICOUT John C., HUANG Jin
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 20(1), January 2005, pp.49-66.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper explores the use and impact of the Internet by disabled people in China, informed by the social model of disability. Based on survey data from 122 disabled individuals across 25 provinces in China, study findings suggest that there is an emerging digital divide in the use of Internet amongst the disability community in China. Internet users in the study do not appear to be representative of most disabled people in China. For the minority of disabled people who do have access to the Internet, however, its use can lead to significantly improved frequency and quality of social interaction. Study findings further suggest that the Internet significantly reduced existing social barriers in the physical and social environment for disabled people. Implications for future research, and strategies for increasing reducing the digital divide between the minority of Internet users and the majority of disabled people in China are discussed.