AMANDA HYNAN FINAL THESIS PDF

“improving the delivery to disabled pupils of information which is readily accessible
to pupils who are not disabled” (Home Office, 2010, Chapter 15, Part 6, Chapter 1,
Section 88, Schedule 10).
In 2009, the United Kingdom ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons
with Disabilities (Office for Disability Issues, HM Government, 2009). Article 30 of
the convention states the right for people with disabilities to participate in cultural life,
recreation, leisure and sport, specifying a member state takes
“appropriate measures to ensure that persons with disabilities:
a) Enjoy access to cultural materials in accessible formats” (United Nations, 2006).
Figures released in the 2012 Ofcom Consumer Experience Report show only 46% of
people with mobility challenges had home access to the internet. A lack of practical
attention to access can risk favouring already privileged groups (Clayton &
Macdonald 2013) and people unable to digitally engage may feel increasingly isolated
(Goggin & Newell, 2003). As discussed previously, access technology refers to the
additional adaptations people with disabilities may require to access ‘off the shelf’
equipment (Watling, 2011). People with disabilities on limited budgets can encounter
high costs, lack of support and inaccessible internet sites (Lewis, 2010; Watling,
2011; Macdonald & Clayton, 2012).
Within the Ofcom report (2012) on home internet use by a single disability group, age
was a significant variable; among the 15-34 year age group percentages were
comparable, 92% of non-disabled and 90% with mobility challenges had home access
to the internet (Ofcom, 2012). In light of the popularity of being online within this age
group it is important to seek the views of those with mobility challenges about their
experiences of using the internet and online social media. There is a growing
legislative requirement and philosophical recognition of the need to ensure the voices
of people with disabilities are better represented within the research process (Farmer
& Macleod, 2011) but as Franklin and Sloper (2009) point out the progress to include
the voices of young people with complex communication needs has been noticeably
slower than in other populations of people with disabilities.
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