Examining the prevalence and type of technology-use in people with Down syndrome: Perspectives from parents and caregivers

Familiarity with technology has become a requirement for independent living, however there is limited information on technology access and use for people with Down syndrome (DS). The aim of this study is to describe technology, gaming, and social-media use in people with DS. Parents/caregivers (N =...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of intellectual disabilities 2024-09, Vol.28 (3), p.683-705
Main Authors: Morris, Su, Farran, Emily K., Gilligan-Lee, Katie A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Caregivers
Child
Child, Preschool
Down Syndrome
Familiarity
Female
Games
Humans
Independent living
Information technology
Male
Parents
Prevalence
Social Media
Speech recognition
Video Games
Young Adult
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Summary:Familiarity with technology has become a requirement for independent living, however there is limited information on technology access and use for people with Down syndrome (DS). The aim of this study is to describe technology, gaming, and social-media use in people with DS. Parents/caregivers (N = 220) of individuals with DS aged 5–35 years (49% female) completed an online questionnaire. They felt that technology and social media use, and to a lesser extent gaming, played an important role in their son/daughter’s life. However, many had concerns about their son/daughter’s safety online, and identified challenges they faced with using technology, such as using a mouse and speech recognition. We also found substantial parental interest in learning more about technology-use in DS, particularly the impact of using social media. This paper summarises important details about technology-use in people with DS, providing foundational information for the design of effective technology-based activities and support.
ISSN:1744-6295
1744-6309
1744-6309
DOI:10.1177/17446295231176121