AMANDA HYNAN FINAL THESIS PDF

and friends. Collaboration is a major
part of this category as individual
challenges meant some participants
could not use the internet and social
media independently.
Online challenges
Challenges exist for the young people in
an online environment but there is
evidence of resilience and an ability to
cope
Access Technology
Methods of access affect participant
choice over which types of equipment
are used
Amanda: “has anyone ever helped you
to do it?
Keith: “my sister”
Amanda: can go on Facebook by
yourself
Mary: ‘no’ (shaking head)
Amanda: no so mum’s always with
you when you go on Facebook is she
Mary: yeah
“one of the people wasn’t very nice to
me, I told them off”
Keith: “I don’t need that
one”(referring to integrated VOCA)
“special switches eight at
home”(describing accessing a
computer)
“need my cable to computer”
(connecting VOCA to computer
Challenges with scanning access
technology
VOCA Issues
Participants described advantages and
disadvantages for using the internet and
online social media through integrated
VOCAs.
Self-determination
Perceived control over independent
access to information and selforganisation
of activities are interpreted
as improved self-determination in terms
of autonomy and authorship of
activities. Another aspect of selfdetermination
was interpreted as
enhanced personal privacy.
“trouble it’s the lack of information”
(parental report)
Email question: What problems do you
have using the internet?
Peter: “Access is slow”
Advantages
Amanda: “Right has that made you
happy being able to use the internet
through your communication aid”
Xavier: yeah
Disadvantages
“I can’t play a game”
“It’s hard”
Authorship of activities
“It gave me more independence. I can
organise things like meetings myself”
“planning trips with my P.A.”
Enhanced privacy
“Main thing about Facebook is I can
send a message to either my brother or
my dad if I have a problem and they
get it on their phones”
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