‘Now that I am connected this isn't social isolation, this is engaging with people’: Staying connected during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Spassiani, Natasha A.; Becaj, Mojca; Miller, Clare; Hiddleston, Andrew; Hume, Aaron; Tait, Stephan

doi:10.1111/bld.12478

‘Now that I am connected this isn't social isolation, this is engaging with people’: Staying connected during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Spassiani, Natasha A.; Becaj, Mojca; Miller, Clare; Hiddleston, Andrew; Hume, Aaron; Tait, Stephan

Authors

Dr Natasha Spassiani N.Spassiani@napier.ac.uk
Associate Professor

Mojca Becaj

Clare Miller

Andrew Hiddleston

Aaron Hume

Stephan Tait

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 global pandemic has put adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities at greater risk of being socially excluded due to physical distancing. Technology has been looked at as a tool for adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities to stay connected, however, little is known about this topic. The purpose of this study was to explore how a grassroots disability organisation used technology to help adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities feel socially connected during the pandemic.

Methods
Data were collected through questionnaires, attendance records, and field notes; and analysed through trend and thematic analysis.

Findings
Four main themes emerged from the data: active leadership, mental wellbeing, technology/digital inclusion, and safety.

Conclusion
These findings suggest that when participants overcome technological barriers they found it easy to socially connect online during lockdown.

Citation

Spassiani, N. A., Becaj, M., Miller, C., Hiddleston, A., Hume, A., & Tait, S. (2023). ‘Now that I am connected this isn't social isolation, this is engaging with people’: Staying connected during the COVID‐19 pandemic. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 51(1), 99-110. https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12478

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Apr 2, 2022
Online Publication Date	Apr 22, 2022
Publication Date	2023-03
Deposit Date	Apr 25, 2022
Publicly Available Date	Apr 25, 2022
Journal	British Journal of Learning Disabilities
Print ISSN	1354-4187
Electronic ISSN	1468-3156
Publisher	Wiley
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	51
Issue	1
Pages	99-110
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1111/bld.12478
Keywords	COVID-19, digital inclusion, disability, intellectual/developmental disability, technology
Public URL	http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2866386