Participation and equal opportunities for all?

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Brodin, Jane

Affiliations: Stockholm Institute of Education, Department of Human Development, Learning and Special Education, The Disability and Handicap Research Group, P.O. Box 47 308, S-100 74 Stockholm, Sweden. Tel.: +46 8 737 96 26; Fax: +46 8 737 96 30; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: This paper focuses on communication and social integration of adults with moderate intellectual disability. Two longitudinal projects form the basis of this article -- TeleCommunity and Videotelephony and Social Interaction, running from 1992 to 1999. The keywords in Europe today are participation and equal opportunities for all citizens in society, and this article will contribute to the critical discussion on this topic. Focus will be on persons with intellectual disabilities, to examine if and how they can exert influence on their lives, especially as the majority of this population has speech and communication disorders.

Keywords: participation, equal opportunities, intellectual disability, mental retardation, social integration

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2000-13107

Journal: Technology and Disability, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 67-75, 2000