TY - GEN
T1 - e-Empowerment of young adults with special needs
T2 - 2009 Virtual Rehabilitation International Conference, VR 2009
AU - Shpigelman, Carmit Noa
AU - Weiss, Patrice L.
AU - Reiter, Shunit
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The Internet has opened up a range of new communication opportunities for people with special needs since it is an accessible communication medium that provides an opportunity to exchange practical information and support and to experience an accepting relationship with less prejudice. To date, few computer-mediated support intervention programs have been designed especially to support the socio-emotional needs of people with special needs. This paper presents the results of a study that evaluated an electronic mentoring intervention program designed to provide socio-emotional support for protégés with disabilities by mentors who also have disabilities. Using a qualitative research design, the study characterized the electronic mentoring process and its contributions from the mentors' point of view. The findings provided support for the potential of electronic mentoring for personal development and empowerment of young adults with special needs.
AB - The Internet has opened up a range of new communication opportunities for people with special needs since it is an accessible communication medium that provides an opportunity to exchange practical information and support and to experience an accepting relationship with less prejudice. To date, few computer-mediated support intervention programs have been designed especially to support the socio-emotional needs of people with special needs. This paper presents the results of a study that evaluated an electronic mentoring intervention program designed to provide socio-emotional support for protégés with disabilities by mentors who also have disabilities. Using a qualitative research design, the study characterized the electronic mentoring process and its contributions from the mentors' point of view. The findings provided support for the potential of electronic mentoring for personal development and empowerment of young adults with special needs.
KW - Computer-mediated support
KW - Disabilities
KW - Electronic mentoring
KW - People with special needs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70449099180&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/ICVR.2009.5174207
DO - 10.1109/ICVR.2009.5174207
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:70449099180
SN - 9781424441891
T3 - 2009 Virtual Rehabilitation International Conference, VR 2009
SP - 65
EP - 69
BT - 2009 Virtual Rehabilitation International Conference, VR 2009
Y2 - 29 June 2009 through 2 July 2009
ER -