Doing and Talking: People with Intellectual Disabilities’ Handling of Challenges of Remote Communication

Keywords

Doing and talking, intellectual disability, remote communication, self-determination, smartphones and tablets, universal design

Abstract

This article is about the challenge of communication via smart-phones and tablets by people with intellectual disabilities (ID). We will give special attention to persons that struggle with verbal communication. One of our co-researchers, the fourth author, has a severe ID. She cannot read, write or use voice assisted technology in any functional manner. As a result of many years of collaboration, and the need for solutions in connection with the challenges withCOVID-19, she and her family have developed ways of remote communication that can be mastered both by the person with an ID and the majority (those without similar disabilities). We call it doing and talking. Successful remote communication not only depends on technology and how to use it, but also on communication strategies that both work for the person with an ID and the majority. It is often the case that people with ID are expected to learn the skills necessary to adapt to the majority. We will show that success is just as much a question of the majority learning new skills and strategies that can make real inclusion and collaboration possible.

Original Publication Citation

Kversøy, K., Alhassan, A. R., Kellems, R., Kversøy, S., & *Cusworth, Z. (2022). Doing and talking: People with Intellectual Disabilities’ handling of challenges of remote communication. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 69(1), 319-330. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2021.1958200

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2022

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Language

English

College

David O. McKay School of Education

Department

Counseling Psychology and Special Education

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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