1. Overcoming the digital divide
Occupational Therapists can facilitate social connections using online technology
Erika Bannert, Nicole Anstey, Anita Hamilton, & Lily Ma Key Messages
Special Thanks to Judy Lin & Sarah Langenhoff
• Computer use is an essential skill
to thrive in today’s society.
overcoming • Occupational therapists play a
key role in ensuring that persons
with a disability are given the
opportunities to become skilled
users of online technologies so
that they are not further
disadvantaged through the
digital divide.
Our Program Our Research Our Findings
Students designed and Students conducted Students and supervisor in-
facilitated a supervised & structured dependently analyzed
5-week pre, post, and follow-up, interviews using coded
Facebook program interviews themes
∗ Signing up ∗ Social connectedness ∗ Increased connections with friends
and family around the world
∗ Teaching approaches
∗ Privacy settings ∗ Some made new friends
∗ Motivation
∗ Posting on the wall ∗ Teaching approaches appropriate
∗ Skills
∗ Games are motivating
∗ Private messaging ∗ Risk
∗ Previous computer use is an asset
∗ Searching for friends ∗ Need regular use and reinforce-
ment to become habit
∗ Adding photos
∗ Sharing Content
For further information please contact: anita.hamilton@ualberta.ca