VCU Media Lab

We propose the establishment of a VCU Media Lab – a professional creative media technology unit whose mission is to support the development, design, production and delivery of innovative media, multimedia, computer-based instruction, publications and tools in support of VCU education, research and marketing initiatives. This centrally administered, budgeted and resourced facility will acknowledge, refine, focus and expand media services that are currently being provided at VCU in a decentralized manner

How does risk mediate the ability of adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live a normal life by using the Internet?

The focus of this position paper is Internet use by adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Drawing on existing literature in the field we will identify problems with and gaps in the current research. Our review is framed by three main questions: What constitutes a ‘normal’ life for adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities? What constitutes ‘normal’ use of the Internet for adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities? How does risk mediate the ability of adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live a normal life by using the Internet? The key focus of this review is the complex relationship between adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those providing support; how they negotiate access to and use of the Internet and how perceptions regarding risk and normalcy mediate this negotiation. As a result of this review will argue that identified gaps and problems in the research field need to be addressed by expanding both methodological and conceptual approaches. In particular we will propose the need for more in-depth qualitative research that is inclusive in nature. We will also propose that an adapted positive risk-taking framework might be useful in framing the design, implementation and analysis of future research

Media use by older adults with hearing loss: An exploratory survey

Objectives: There has been a substantial increase in people with health conditions seeking health-related information online. The aim of this study was to examine the media usage by older adults with hearing loss. Method: The study used a cross-sectional survey design. A total of 556 older adults with hearing loss (Hearing Tracker website users) completed the survey that was focused on (a) demographic information, (b) general electronic media usage, (c) sources of hearing health information, and (d) social media use for hearing health information. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results: When seeking hearing health care information, the majority of the participants turned to the Internet (54%) followed by health professionals (34%) as the first response to their symptoms. Both sources were also rated as the easiest means of obtaining hearing health information. The information from health care providers was rated as more reliable and important for decision making than that from the Internet. Facebook and YouTube were the most frequently used social media platforms with over 40% of the respondents using them “most of the time” or “sometimes.” All the social media platforms were rated less favorably than other sources for ease of finding information, reliability, and importance in decision making. Conclusion: Older adults with hearing loss use various forms of electronic media for seeking hearing health information. They place the most trust on the information obtained from hearing health care professionals. These professionals need to be aware of the quality of information available on the Internet and social media sources in order to direct patients to credible sources

Computer skills and internet use in adults aged 50-74 years: influence of hearing difficulties

BACKGROUND The use of personal computers (PCs) and the Internet to provide health care information and interventions has increased substantially over the past decade. Yet the effectiveness of such an approach is highly dependent upon whether the target population has both access and the skill set required to use this technology. This is particularly relevant in the delivery of hearing health care because most people with hearing loss are over 50 years (average age for initial hearing aid fitting is 74 years). Although PC skill and Internet use by demographic factors have been examined previously, data do not currently exist that examine the effects of hearing difficulties on PC skill or Internet use in older adults. OBJECTIVE To explore the effect that hearing difficulty has on PC skill and Internet use in an opportunistic sample of adults aged 50-74 years. METHODS Postal questionnaires about hearing difficulty, PC skill, and Internet use (n=3629) were distributed to adults aged 50-74 years through three family physician practices in Nottingham, United Kingdom. A subsample of 84 respondents completed a second detailed questionnaire on confidence in using a keyboard, mouse, and track pad. Summed scores were termed the "PC confidence index." The PC confidence index was used to verify the PC skill categories in the postal questionnaire (ie, never used a computer, beginner, and competent). RESULTS The postal questionnaire response rate was 36.78% (1298/3529) and 95.15% (1235/1298) of these contained complete information. There was a significant between-category difference for PC skill by PC confidence index (P<.001), thus verifying the three-category PC skill scale. PC and Internet use was greater in the younger respondents (50-62 years) than in the older respondents (63-74 years). The younger group's PC and Internet use was 81.0% and 60.9%, respectively; the older group's PC and Internet use was 54.0% and 29.8%, respectively. Those with slight hearing difficulties in the older group had significantly greater odds of PC use compared to those with no hearing difficulties (odds ratio [OR]=1.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-2.30, P=.02). Those with moderate+ hearing difficulties had lower odds of PC use compared with those with no hearing difficulties, both overall (OR=0.58, 95% CI 0.39-0.87, P=.008) and in the younger group (OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.26-0.86, P=.008). Similar results were demonstrated for Internet use by age group (older: OR=1.57, 95% CI 0.99-2.47, P=.05; younger: OR=0.32, 95% CI 0.16-0.62, P=.001). CONCLUSIONS Hearing health care is of particular relevance to older adults because of the prevalence of age-related hearing loss. Our data show that older adults experiencing slight hearing difficulty have increased odds of greater PC skill and Internet use than those reporting no difficulty. These findings suggest that PC and Internet delivery of hearing screening, information, and intervention is feasible for people between 50-74 years who have hearing loss, but who would not typically present to an audiologist

Patterns of Physical Activity Participation, Sources of Social Support and Friendship Dynamics among Children with Low Vision

Research was conducted to assess the patterns of physical activity participation, sources of social support and friendship dynamics among children with low vision. Twenty-four male and female children between the ages of 8 and 14 years with low vision (20/70 to 20/400) completed a questionnaire related to their participation in physical activity. Results indicate that the children are active at school in physical education classes, at home and in community recreation programs. The research shows that they also have significant social supports and their friendship dynamics are positive

Changing what it means to be "normal": a grounded theory study of the mobility choices of people who are blind or visually impaired

Introduction: The ability to get out and about is important to social inclusion and quality of life and it is one of the most significant challenges for people who are blind or visually impaired. There has been little research into the underlying concerns of people who are blind or visually impaired when making decisions about mobility. Method: This grounded theory study explored the main mobility-related concerns of people who are blind or visually impaired. It uses qualitative data, drawn from a combination of online discussions, face-to-face, telephone and email interviews, and focus groups with people who are blind or visually impaired and rehabilitation practitioners. Results: The primary concern of people who are blind or visually impaired when making choices about where to go, and when and how to do so, was a desire to see oneself and to be seen by others as “normal”. Self-identity and perceived “normality” are subjective and changeable and are continually internally co-reconstructed to achieve congruence between them. The mobility strategies used are those that are perceived as most “normal”. Discussion: Perceived “normality” has a powerful influence on behaviour. By harnessing this, rehabilitation services may be better able to promote autonomy and self-reliance. Implications for Practitioners: To promote independence, rehabilitation services must change people’s perception of what is “normal”. People must be supported to come to perceive fulfilment of valued social roles, autonomy and self-reliance as “normal”

Journal of the American Deafness and Rehabilitation Association Year 2008, Volume 42, Number 1 Complete

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Relationship between cognitive ability, personality, psychological well-being and self-esteem among hearing-impaired students: The moderating role of emotional intelligence

Hearing-impaired students tend to face obstacle in communication due to limitations of social-emotional experiences as well as social skills aspect which potentially influenced emotional intelligence, cognitive ability, personality, psychological wellbeing and self-esteem. This study aimed to examine: (i) the level of cognitive ability dimensions, personality traits, psychological well-being dimensions, emotional intelligence dimensions and self-esteem of hearing-impaired students, (ii) the differences in cognitive ability, personality traits, psychological well-being, emotional intelligence and self-esteem of the hearing-impaired students according to gender and parents’ hearing status, (iii) the relationship between cognitive ability dimensions, personality traits, psychological well-being dimensions, emotional intelligence dimensions and self-esteem, (iv) emotional intelligence as a moderating variable and lastly, (v) factors that significantly predict students’ hearing-impaired self-esteem. Respondents were 163 hearing-impaired students from five polytechnics and were selected via simple random sampling. The descriptive and inferential statistics were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Findings of the study showed that there were significant relationships between variables in the study. There was a significant difference in cognitive ability and self-esteem according to parent’s hearing status. There were also significant relationships between self-esteem and extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness. The study also revealed significant relationships between self-esteem and dimensions of emotional intelligence (interpersonal and general mood) and dimensions of psychological well-being. Emotional intelligence moderated the relationships between memory, attention, neuroticism, openness, conscientiousness, self-acceptance, autonomy, purpose in life, environmental mastery and personal growth with self-esteem. The findings also showed interpersonal and agreeableness dimensions significantly contributed towards self-esteem. In conclusion, this study contributed towards enhancing the knowledge about hearing-impaired students’ self-esteem and its relation to their cognitive ability, personality traits, psychological well-being and emotional intelligence specifically in the field of developmental psychology and special education area in Malaysi

Factors influencing digital skill competencies among persons with disabilities in Malaysia

Malaysia has about half a million persons with disabilities registered with the Department of Social Welfare. This study, therefore, tries to determine factors influencing digital skill competencies (technical competency, cognitive competency, and personal competency) among persons with disabilities. The factors explored are intensity of Internet usage, perception of the Internet, benefits of the Internet, and usage of the electronic devices. This study employs a quantitative research design using the survey method where a questionnaire is used as the research instrument. A total of 1200 persons with disabilities participated in the study. The impairment is either visual, hearing, speech, learning, physical or mental. Results show that the majority (84.1%) use the Internet. All factors correlate positively with the digital skill competencies. The best predictor is the perceived benefits of the Internet. Suggestions are put forth to the relevant authorities toward having a digital inclusion policy for persons with disabilities so that they can remain competitive in the employment market