‘Now that I am connected this isn't social isolation, this is engaging with people’: Staying connected during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Authors: Spassiani, Natasha A. ;

Becaj, Mojca;

Miller, Clare;

Hiddleston, Andrew;

Hume, Aaron;

Tait, Stephan

Source: British Journal of Learning Disabilities

Full text

: https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12478

Abstract

The COVID-19 global pandemic has put adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities at greater risk of being socially excluded due to physical distancing. Technology has been looked at as a tool for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities to stay connected, however, little is known about this topic. The purpose of this study was to explore how a grassroots disability organisation used technology to help adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities feel socially connected during the pandemic.MethodsData were collected through questionnaires, attendance records, and field notes; and analysed through trend and thematic analysis.FindingsFour main themes emerged from the data: active leadership, mental wellbeing, technology/digital inclusion, and safety.ConclusionThese findings suggest that when participants overcome technological barriers they found it easy to socially connect online during lockdown.

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https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Cite as

Spassiani, N., Becaj, M., Miller, C., Hiddleston, A., Hume, A. & Tait, S. 2022, '‘Now that I am connected this isn't social isolation, this is engaging with people’: Staying connected during the COVID‐19 pandemic', British Journal of Learning Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12478

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Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12478

Repository URI: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2866386