The role of mobile technology in promoting social inclusion among adults with intellectual disabilities

Background: Mobile technology has the potential to assist adults with intellectual disabilities to initiate and maintain social connections in important areas of their lives, such as family, friends and work/volunteering. Method: The present study investigated how specific aspects of mobile device/app use are associated with the social inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. The study also examined what background attributes were associated with particular patterns of mobile device/app use and social inclusion. Results: The findings revealed that the use of mobile technology among adults with intellectual disabilities was positively associated with their social inclusion with family, friends and work/volunteering. There were also some key background attributes associated with participants’ use of mobile technology and the extent to which mobile technology assisted their social inclusion. Conclusions: Implications for practice and policy are discussed

Codesigning patient experience measures for and with children and young people with intellectual disability: a study protocol.

Abstract Introduction Children and young people with intellectual disability represent one of the most vulnerable groups in healthcare, yet they remain under-represented in projects to design, develop and/or improve healthcare service delivery. Increasingly, healthcare services are using various codesign and coproduction methodologies to engage children and young people in service delivery improvements. Methods and analysis This study employs an inclusive approach to the study design and execution, including two co-researchers who are young people with intellectual disability on the project team. We will follow an adapted experience-based co-design methodology to enable children and young people with intellectual disability to participate fully in the co-design of a prototype tool for eliciting patient experience data from children and young people with intellectual disability in hospital. Ethics and dissemination This study was granted ethical approval on 1 February 2021 by the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Human Research Ethics Committee, reference number 2020/ETH02898. Dissemination plan includes publications, doctoral thesis chapter, educational videos. A summary of findings will be shared with all participants and presented at the organisation quality and safety committee

Codesigning patient experience measures for and with children and young people with intellectual disability: A study protocol

Introduction Children and young people with intellectual disability represent one of the most vulnerable groups in healthcare, yet they remain under-represented in projects to design, develop and/or improve healthcare service delivery. Increasingly, healthcare services are using various codesign and coproduction methodologies to engage children and young people in service delivery improvements. Methods and analysis This study employs an inclusive approach to the study design and execution, including two co-researchers who are young people with intellectual disability on the project team. We will follow an adapted experience-based co-design methodology to enable children and young people with intellectual disability to participate fully in the co-design of a prototype tool for eliciting patient experience data from children and young people with intellectual disability in hospital. Ethics and dissemination This study was granted ethical approval on 1 February 2021 by the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Human Research Ethics Committee, reference number 2020/ETH02898. Dissemination plan includes publications, doctoral thesis chapter, educational videos. A summary of findings will be shared with all participants and presented at the organisation quality and safety committee

“I am not a number!” Opinions and preferences of people with intellectual disability about genetic healthcare

There is limited research exploring the knowledge and experiences of genetic healthcare from the perspective of people with intellectual disability. This study, conducted in New South Wales (Australia), addresses this gap. Eighteen adults with intellectual disability and eight support people were interviewed in this inclusive research study. The transcribed interviews were analysed using inductive content analysis. The findings were discussed in a focus group with ten adults with intellectual disability and in three multi-stakeholder advisory workshops, contributing to the validity and trustworthiness of the findings. Five main themes emerged: (i) access to genetic healthcare services is inequitable, with several barriers to the informed consent process; (ii) the experiences and opinions of people with intellectual disability are variable, including frustration, exclusion and fear; (iii) genetic counselling and diagnoses can be profoundly impactful, but translating a genetic diagnosis into tailored healthcare, appropriate support, peer connections and reproductive planning faces barriers; (iv) people with intellectual disability have a high incidence of exposure to trauma and some reported that their genetic healthcare experiences were associated with further trauma; (v) recommendations for a more respectful and inclusive model of genetic healthcare. Co-designed point-of-care educational and consent resources, accompanied by tailored professional education for healthcare providers, are required to improve the equity and appropriateness of genetic healthcare for people with intellectual disability

Ultrashort Bradycardic Effect of Newly Synthesized Compounds

Changes in the heart rate induced by four different doses of two newly synthesized potential ultrashort-action antagonists of beta adrenergic receptors were tested in 90 male laboratory Wistar rats. The isoprenaline-induced tachycardia model was used. Their effects were compared with those of esmolol. In the second part of the study, approximate electro-physiological measurements were made in vitro to assess the influence of the compounds tested on ion membrane currents in isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes. Both compounds demonstrated significant bradycardic effects in all concentrations tested compared with the control group, but they differed in the time of the onset of their action. Both newly synthesized compounds induced blockade of the fast sodium current (INa) and potassium currents (Ito, IK1, IK,end)

Digital inclusion and participation of people with intellectual disabilities during COVID-19: A rapid review and international bricolage

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant a rapid transfer of everyday activities to the online world. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become more embedded than ever in people's lives. This investigation addresses how this change has affected the lives of people with intellectual disabilities (ID). A two-step design was used. A rapid review was conducted on empirical studies published between January 2019 and June 2021. Search terms related to ID, ICT use and COVID-19. A qualitative international bricolage was also conducted corresponding to author nationalities. Data gathered from the review and bricolage were analysed separately using thematic analysis and relationally synthesised. Digital solutions to provide access to COVID-19 information and guidance seemed inadequate but were seldom empirically studied. Digital poverty, literacy and exclusion remain significant issues for people with ID internationally. People and their carers experienced reduced and removed service provision, loneliness and impoverished daily lives during the pandemic; amelioration of which was facilitated by digital solutions. One solution often used was videoconferencing. Prior experience of digital participation, adequate finances, connection, support and digital literacy mentoring for both people with ID and those providing services and support facilitated digital inclusion. Digital exclusion during COVID-19 was exacerbated by sociopolitical, structural, individual and support-related barriers. Although awareness of digital exclusion appears to have been raised, the extent to which this has led to action and change remains unclear. Despite digital exclusion and digital participation benefitting continuation of life, social and emotional well-being and autonomy, COVID-19 has not provided the impetus to eradicate digital poverty for people with ID. Governmental support, digital education, creativity and problem solving are required to enable people with ID the human right to be included in the digital world at this essential time and into the future

Digital inclusion and participation of people with intellectual disabilities during COVID‐19: A rapid review and international bricolage

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant a rapid transfer of everyday activities to the online world. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have become more embedded than ever in people’s lives. This investigation addresses how this change has affected the lives of people with intellectual disabilities (ID). A two-step design was used. A rapid review was conducted on empirical studies published between January 2019 and June 2021. Search terms related to ID, ICT use and COVID-19. A qualitative international bricolage was also conducted corresponding to author nationalities. Data gathered from the review and bricolage were analysed separately using thematic analysis and relationally synthesised. Digital solutions to provide access to COVID-19 information and guidance seemed inadequate but were seldom empirically studied. Digital poverty, literacy and exclusion remain significant issues for people with ID internationally. People and their carers experienced reduced and removed service provision, loneliness and impoverished daily lives during the pandemic; amelioration of which was facilitated by digital solutions. One solution often used was videoconferencing. Prior experience of digital participation, adequate finances, connection, support and digital literacy mentoring for both people with ID and those providing services and support facilitated digital inclusion. Digital exclusion during COVID-19 was exacerbated by sociopolitical, structural, individual and support-related barriers. Although awareness of digital exclusion appears to have been raised, the extent to which this has led to action and change remains unclear. Despite digital exclusion and digital participation benefitting continuation of life, social and emotional well-being and autonomy, COVID-19 has not provided the impetus to eradicate digital poverty for people with ID. Governmental support, digital education, creativity and problem solving are required to enable people with ID the human right to be included in the digital world at this essential time and into the future