AMANDA HYNAN FINAL THESIS PDF

convince others of what to think about the individual. Livingstone (2008) suggests (in
line with Mead’s (1934) distinction between ‘I’ and ‘me’) that online social media is
definitely about ‘me’ as it reveals the self as it is entrenched within a social peer
group rather than the personal representations of ‘I’ which tend to remain private.
These debates about online identity formation have also filtered into the disability
research arena. Some researchers have expressed that being online can be a ‘levelling
ground’ offering people with physical disabilities the opportunity to show their
abilities without being defined by their bodily appearance (e.g. Bowker & Tuffin,
2002). This idea is also discussed by Seymour and Lupton (2004) who found ‘bodyless’
communication was valued by participants as offering the opportunity to escape
the visible body as an identifier of disability and facilitated communication on more
equal terms. However, it was also acknowledged within their study that losing the
nuances of non-verbal communication online can lead to misunderstandings. It is
important to understand that escaping definitions of bodily appearance is desired in
order to challenge societal perceptions of ability and must not be confused with ideas
of lowered self-concept. Shields, Murdoch, Loy, Dodd and Taylor (2006) carried out
a systematic review to examine the literature base for evidence of the assumed
lowered self-concept of young people who have cerebral palsy. They found there was
insufficient evidence to conclude young people with cerebral palsy have lower global
self-concept than peers without disability, although a small amount of evidence
suggested young girls with cerebral palsy may be at a slightly higher risk of lowered
self-concept.
As noted previously within this review, very little research has been carried out with
young people with physical disabilities and complex communication needs in relation
to self-representation within online environments.
2.4.7. Self-determination
The potential benefits of the internet and digital engagement have been well
documented across areas such as education, health, employment, public services and
leisure and the UK government believes it can increase social inclusion opportunities
(Champion for Digital Inclusion, 2009). People affected by unemployment, low
49