Supporting Families of Young Children with Disabilities Using Technology

Abstract

Research has frequently focused on needs, preferences, and practices of families of young children with disabilities. Surprisingly, relatively little seems to be known about how families use technology to gain information about and support their needs, even though Web-based and other information and communication technology applications have become ubiquitous tools in contemporary society. This article describes a pilot study designed to collect information about a cadre of both family-used and preferred technology applications and their features. Implications for practice and future development of technology supports created by practitioners who work with families are noted.