How Young People Living with Disability Experience the Use of Assistive Technology

Abstract

AbstractIn this paper, we investigate and analyze how young people that have motor impairments experience and have access to various forms of Information and Communications Technology (ICT). The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of how various assistive technologies (AT) mediate between young people and ICT systems, exploring how the user experience is perceived in practice. We apply the lens of the cultural-historical activity theory framework via a series of mainly qualitative explorations in Sweden, studying the user experience of ATs. They obtained findings reveal that there are many breakdowns in the interaction with ICT at the micro level, mainly due to limited fine motor impairments in the hands, which the used ICT - with or without AT - could not handle properly. Still the young adults perceived a positive UX in general. When comparing their parents’ view on the access to and experience of ICT a more negative UX of the available ICT systems emerged from a macro level. The parents often mentioned the lack of appropriate ICT and AT as well as relevant support from the education institutions and other authorities. Some identified deficits framed from the perspective of sustainable accessibility are discussed from the societal level. Especially, the need of proper education that is enabled by credible ICT and AT, otherwise disabled young people are hindered to fully participate in society.KeywordsUser experienceDisability interactionMotor impairmentDisabilityAssistive technologyActivity theory