I want that! - teaching the internet and email to a group of clients with intellectual disability

Abstract

Through a collaboration between the University of Queensland Library and theFred and Eleanor Schonell Special Education Research Centre, library stafftaught a series of hands-on internet workshops to students in the “LATCH-ONprogram” (Literacy and Technology – Hands-On), a literacy teaching andresearch program for young adults aged 18-22 with Down syndrome. This was anew, challenging, and very rewarding experience for the library staff involved.LATCH-On is a program that has been developed to use a combination oftechnology and the more traditional methods of literacy instruction to enhanceliteracy development of young adults with Down syndrome. As well as helpingstudents to develop their literacy, access to the internet can help students to linkto the wider world, to find information, and to communicate with friends andothers in the community using email. It can also provide new motivation forstudents to strive to improve their literacy skills.Library staff who taught the workshops found they needed to adapt their ways ofteaching to suit the needs, interests, and ways of learning of this group ofstudents. The experience highlighted the features of internet access that canbecome barriers to people with intellectual disabilities. The students showedgreat determination and were very enthusiastic. This project allowed library staffto use their expertise in using and teaching the internet to help this group ofstudents with special needs to participate in using this technology, andrepresented a significant partnership between the Library and the SchonellCentre.This paper will detail the challenges, some solutions, and the rewards of theproject. It serves as an example of the role of librarians as facilitators andteachers of information technology and information literacy, and highlights theneed for inclusive practice and for improving accessibility of electronic services toclients with special needs.

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