Digital participation and digital education for people with profound and multiple disabilities and complex communication needs

Bibliographic Data

ID22092935
AuthorsCaren Keeley (0000-0001-8310-0485, University of Cologne, corresponding author), Tobias Bernasconi (0000-0002-9148-8464, University of Cologne)
Year2023
Volume8
Publication date2023-07-31
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Communication (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2297-900X • E-ISSN: 2297-900X
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fcomm.2023.1229384
OpenAlexW4385409361
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited35

“Digitalisation” is the buzzword of many societal as well as social changes. Participation in society is increasingly realized digitally, which is why it is important to be involved in these processes and to participate in the digital world. The UN CRPD also assigns an important role to (digital) technology as a prerequisite for inclusion and participation. Universal design, accessibility, assistive technology, and reasonable accommodation should help to avoid exclusion for people with disabilities. People with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD), who often have complex communication needs (CCN) in addition to severe cognitive impairments, have fundamentally limited opportunities for participation. These are also visible in the context of digitalisation. At the same time, digital media also offer specific opportunities, particularly for people with PIMD and CCN. Among other things through the combined use of assistive technologies, digital media can significantly facilitate their daily lives. The present paper examines the significance, requirements and challenges as well as the potentials of digital participation and digital education in the lives of adults with PIMD and CCN and presents considerations for the design of digital education for adults. Finally, a conceptual framework for digital education for people with PIMD is presented

Assistive technology · Conceptual framework · Digital media · Geography · Human–computer interaction · Information and Communications Technology · Internet privacy · Partially sighted · Political science · Public relations · Social media · Social science · Sociology · Universal design · Visually impaired · World Wide Web · Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility · Computer Science · Digital Accessibility for Disabilities · Disability Education and Employment · Psychology · Social Psychology

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Open DOIOpen Access