AMANDA HYNAN FINAL THESIS PDF

PA: Oh never! I know but does Amanda know (Jack shakes head). I don’t
know if we can sign it. This is a…. very good friend we’ll say (laughing)
Jack: ‘yes’ (smiles and nods head)
PA: Kathy
Amanda: would it be your girlfriend by any chance?
Jack: ‘yes’ (nods head vigorously and smiles)
Amanda: ah brilliant. Is that what you wanted me to know
Jack: ‘yes’ (nods head)
Amanda: So this is great news Jack cos this means you can keep in contact
with your girlfriend all the time and read what she has been up to. Is she at
this college
Jack: ‘yes’ (nods head)
Amanda: But is she, do you have any groups together and things like that
Jack: ‘no’ (shakes head)
Amanda: Is she in a different group to you
Jack: ‘yes’ (nods head)
4.11.4. Summary
“Talking” to other people was the term used by the participants and within this
category came up repeatedly across the interviews. As the participants have
challenges for using natural speech it was clearly one of the most important perceived
benefits of using the internet and online social media. In a society which could be
seen to privilege speech (Bourdieu, 1991) the participants expressed how the internet
and online social media helps them redress this imbalance which in turn enriched
existing social ties. Within social capital theory the ability to strengthen close social
relationships is known as bonding social capital.
Being online offered benefits for maintaining social ties with people who it may have
be difficult to see due to life changes and living away from home. There was also a
small amount of evidence that opportunities to meet new people could be created
through linking up with other settings. One aspect of having physical disabilities is the
difficulty of spending time alone with other people with physical disabilities as both
parties are often in the company of personal staff. The demonstration of using InBook
to keep in touch with a girlfriend showed how a private communication space could
be created online to support intimate relationships. The perceived support for social
ties offered by online activity also overlaps with issues within the self-determination
category for enhanced privacy (section 4.9.2) and the self-representation category of
sharing personal information (section 4.10.1) and conversational equality (section
4.10.2.)
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