Abstract
BackgroundApproximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States are currently living with a form of disability. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act has published guidelines to help make developing technology and social networking sites (SNS) more accessible and user-friendly to people with a range of disabilities, persons with disabilities, on average, have less access to the internet than the general population. The quality, content, and medium vary from site to site and have been greatly understudied. Due to this, it is still unclear how persons with disabilities utilize various platforms of online communication for support.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to qualitatively explore and compare the interactions and connections among online support groups across Facebook, discussion forums, and chat rooms to better understand how persons with disabilities were utilizing different SNS to facilitate communication interchange, disseminate information, and foster community support.MethodsFacebook groups, discussion forums, and chat rooms were chosen based on predetermined inclusion criteria. Data collected included content posted on Facebook groups, forums, and chat rooms as well as the interactions among group members. Data were analyzed qualitatively using the constant comparative method.ResultsA total of 133 Facebook posts, 116 forum posts, and 60 hours of chat room discussions were collected and analyzed. In addition, 4 themes were identified for Facebook posts, 3 for discussion forums, and 3 for chat rooms. Persons with disabilities utilized discussion forums and chat rooms in similar ways, but their interactions on Facebook differed in comparison. They seem to interact on a platform based on the specific functions it offers.ConclusionsInteractions on each of the platforms displayed elements of the 4 types of social support, indicating the ability for social support to be facilitated among SNS; however, the type of social support varied by platform. Findings demonstrate that online support platforms serve specific purposes that may not be interchangeable. Through participation on different platforms, persons with disabilities are able to provide and receive social support in various ways, without the barriers and constraints often experienced by this population.
Highlights
OverviewCurrently within the United States, more than 20% of adults are living with some form of disability [1]
Persons with disabilities utilized discussion forums and chat rooms in similar ways, but their interactions on Facebook differed in comparison
Interactions on each of the platforms displayed elements of the 4 types of social support, indicating the ability for social support to be facilitated among social networking sites (SNS); the type of social support varied by platform
Summary
OverviewCurrently within the United States, more than 20% of adults are living with some form of disability [1]. Online communities are social networks formed or facilitated by means of a technical platform (eg, Facebook, discussion forums, and chat rooms) through which groups of people with similar interests can establish social relationships and connect and interact with one another [3,5]. The Americans with Disabilities Act has published guidelines to help make developing technology and social networking sites (SNS) more accessible and user-friendly to people with a range of disabilities, persons with disabilities, on average, have less access to the internet than the general population. The quality, content, and medium vary from site to site and have been greatly understudied Due to this, it is still unclear how persons with disabilities utilize various platforms of online communication for support
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