Disability citizenship and independence through mobile technology? A study exploring adoption and use of a mobile technology platform

Abstract

This article explores the use of a mobile technology platform as experienced by people with disability, their significant other and service providers. An interpretive qualitative study design was adopted involving observations and interviews. The data were analysed using the combined lenses of the social approach to disability and the PHAATE model which represents the factors for consideration in service design for assistive technology. The findings suggest that the adoption of the technology by those in the study could be characterised by a typology of users. The implications of the typology are discussed together with the influencing factors that affected social participation and disability citizenship.

Keywords:

• PHAATE model
• mobile technology
• disability citizenship
• mobile phone
• social participation

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the efforts of the people with disability, significant others and service providers who contributed their expertise to the research project. The project team also had research assistants who had experience with interviewing people with disability and we would like to thank Dr Megan Stronach, Catherine Egan and Alison Morris for their contribution.

Notes

1. ’Significant other’ in this study may refer to a person with a disability’s partner, family member, carer, attendant or guardian whom they identify. The language used in the findings is reflective of the language that the person with disability used.