A Sense of Control

Virtual Communities for People with Mobility Impairments

Christine Tilley

• Publisher: Chandos Publishing
• Year: 2008
• Topic: Social Sciences
• eBook ISBN:
  9781780631448
• Subtopic: Sociology
• Index: Social Sciences

This work develops a theoretical framework for a virtual community for people with long-term, severe mobility disabilities. It proposes strategies for implementing a virtual community model based on user information needs. The central theme to emerge from their narratives is how the use of information and communications technology (ICT) allows them to regain a sense of control. The conclusion is that the technology provides strategies for independence and facilitates self-empowerment. - Draws on the author's wide-ranging experience of ICT and disability - Provides practical and realistic recommendations to real-world problems

Table of contents

• Cover
• A Sense of Control: Virtual communities for people with mobility impairments
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• List of figures and tables
• About the author
• Acknowledgements
• List of acronyms
• Preface
• 1 Communication, information and well-being for people with disabilities
• 2 Virtual communities’ research – the perspective
• 3 Governments’ policies, legislative and telecommunications regulatory frameworks and information policy
• 4 Information needs research for people with disabilities
• 5 Deconstructing the narratives of people with disabilities – towards a well-being model for a successful virtual community
• 6 Findings from the narratives of the allied health/information/policy professionals: confirming the relevance of the emerging well-being model
• 7 Model construction
• 8 Future directions for virtual communities for people with physical disabilities
• Appendix I: Synopses of participants
• Appendix II: Data analysis sample
• Appendix III: Glossary
• References, legislation and websites
• Index