Supportive role of the ICT Technologies in the process of social development of people with deeper mental handicap

Intensive development of computer and Internet technologies is an imminent characteristic of recent reality. The social status of a person is more and more often dependent on his ability to participate in mass culture norms, realized by the use of modern Internet technologies, ownership of hardware, use of mobile apps and a presence in the social media. Staying out of digital reality, also much often can cause exclusion from social interaction in general. One of the groups most threatened with social marginalization are people with a handicap, especially with deeper mental handicap. Their limited access to computer/mobile hardware (caused mostly by their financial status), and the marginal role of ICT education in educational and rehabilitation curriculums, can cause lowering of their social status and finally lead to social exclusion. Considering the changes in the social environment caused by the impact of computer/internet technologies, the use of modern ICT tech and it’s potential as sociological compensation for the lack in social functioning of people with deeper mental handicap, might be the chance for a practical realisation of the normalisation paradigm.

One of the examples confirming the ability and sense of actions taken in this field, is certainly the experience gained during the realisation of the PO KL 7.2.1 project „Zrobimy to sami…” (We’ll do it ourselves...). This project was carried out in 2011-2013 in the Silesian region. Actions implemented in 6 cities of the region, addressed people with deeper mental handicap staying out of vocational activity. The main characteristic of the task carried out during the realization of the project was to concentrate on the areas where the participants’ functioning was stereotypically considered as unavailable for them. In terms of this article, the most interesting of course was their use of the ICT technologies, and the Mahara e-portfolio portal. Thanks to this tool, the project participants became fully-fledged partakers of a digital society and creators of the digital resources. They were taking part in activities typical for their peers, socially attractive and appropriate for their age and interests.

Analysis of the outcomes of the described project shows that the people with deeper mental handicap can benefit from ICT in the perspective of their development and achieve enhancement of the quality of life to a far greater extent than is expected within the common belief about their cognitive capabilities. Yet there is a great lack in the organizational solutions and awareness between professionals about the need to develop ICT skills among people with deeper mental handicap.

Intensive development of computer and Internet technologies is an imminent characteristic of recent reality. The social status of a person is more and more often dependent on his ability to participate in mass culture norms, realized by the use of modern Internet technologies, ownership of hardware, use of mobile apps and a presence in the social media. Staying out of digital reality, also much often can cause exclusion from social interaction in general. One of the groups most threatened with social marginalization are people with a handicap, especially with deeper mental handicap. Their limited access to computer/mobile hardware (caused mostly by their financial status), and the marginal role of ICT education in educational and rehabilitation curriculums, can cause lowering of their social status and finally lead to social exclusion. Considering the changes in the social environment caused by the impact of computer/internet technologies, the use of modern ICT tech and it’s potential as sociological compensation for the lack in social functioning of people with deeper mental handicap, might be the chance for a practical realisation of the normalisation paradigm.

One of the examples confirming the ability and sense of actions taken in this field, is certainly the experience gained during the realisation of the PO KL 7.2.1 project „Zrobimy to sami…” (We’ll do it ourselves...). This project was carried out in 2011-2013 in the Silesian region. Actions implemented in 6 cities of the region, addressed people with deeper mental handicap staying out of vocational activity. The main characteristic of the task carried out during the realization of the project was to concentrate on the areas where the participants’ functioning was stereotypically considered as unavailable for them. In terms of this article, the most interesting of course was their use of the ICT technologies, and the Mahara e-portfolio portal. Thanks to this tool, the project participants became fully-fledged partakers of a digital society and creators of the digital resources. They were taking part in activities typical for their peers, socially attractive and appropriate for their age and interests.

Analysis of the outcomes of the described project shows that the people with deeper mental handicap can benefit from ICT in the perspective of their development and achieve enhancement of the quality of life to a far greater extent than is expected within the common belief about their cognitive capabilities. Yet there is a great lack in the organizational solutions and awareness between professionals about the need to develop ICT skills among people with deeper mental handicap.