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…

This article is about the challenge of communication via smartphones and tablets by people with intellectual disabilities (ID). We will give special attention to persons that struggle with verbal communication. One of our co-researchers, the fourth author, has a severe ID. She cannot read, write or use voice assisted technology in any functional…

Background: While there has been a strong national and international emphasis on social inclusion over the past 15 years, many people with intellectual disabilities remain socially isolated in their communities. Mobile technology has the potential to support social inclusion and there is great interest among adults with intellectual disabilities…

Since the passing of the Higher Education Opportunity Act in 2008, more students with intellectual disability are being admitted to inclusive postsecondary education programs at U.S. colleges and universities. One of the challenges many students with intellectual disability face when arriving on a college campus is learning to navigate their new…

Starting college can be an exciting time for students. College can also present new challenges, like learning unwritten rules, following unfamiliar procedures, and navigating new environments. Many students, including those with intellectual disability, benefit from explicit campus navigation and acclimation training in their new campus community.…

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) frequently have challenges engaging in social and communication skills due to lack of availability and safe opportunities to practice these skills. The ability to successfully engage in "small talk," or simple social conversational exchanges, can be beneficial in…

This study aimed to investigate the experiences of people with intellectual disability (ID) using information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the ways these technologies foster social connectedness. In partnership with a community mental health organization, this qualitative descriptive study explored the experiences of 10 people with ID…

Colleges across the nation have seen an increase in programming for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) over the past decade. With this increase in programming comes the need to support students with IDD while accessing a large college campus. Using technology, such as Google Maps™, on one's cell phone is a natural…

Supporting interaction in inclusive settings between students with complex communication needs (CCN) and their peers requires careful planning and support. We used a multiple-probe-across-participants design to investigate the efficacy of collaborative planning and peer support arrangements to increase peer interaction in inclusive classrooms.…