ERIC Number: EJ1454179
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1034-912X
EISSN: EISSN-1465-346X
Social Media Use Training for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: A Pilot Study
Abirami Thirumanickam; Fiona Rillotta; Ruth Walker; Eleanor Watson; Susan Balandin; Parimala Raghavendra
International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, v72 n1 p177-194 2025
People with intellectual disability use social media; however, there are barriers preventing them from using and benefiting from social media to the same extent as others. Some barriers include lack of knowledge, limited skills and inaccessibility. This pilot study used a sequential mixed method design to explore the outcomes of a social media training program for adults with intellectual disability aimed at social media use and increased social networks of participants. Six participants (mean age 35.7 years) participated in training focused on cyber safety and support to use individualised social media use goals. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Goal Attainment Scale, and Circles of Communication Partners tools were used to examine the outcomes of training and changes in the participants' social networks. Semi-structured interviews with participants and one staff member provided insight into participants' experiences and perceptions of training outcomes. Findings indicated that participants achieved some of their goals and communicated with more people online after training compared to before training. Preliminary outcomes suggest that social media use training may assist adults with intellectual disability to strengthen social connections, gain digital literacy skills, and increase self-confidence online. Further research is needed with a larger sample, including a control group.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Adults, Intellectual Disability, Social Media, Social Networks, Safety Education, Access to Computers, Computer Literacy, Group Homes, Pilot Projects, Program Evaluation, Program Effectiveness
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A