Multimedia Advocacy: A New Way of Self Expression and Communication for People with Intellectual Disabilities

The paper describes the early stages of one strand of an international project entitled Web 2.0 for People with Intellectual Disabilities (W2ID). The project team reports on a project pilot that involves five countries, 400 learners with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) (13 to adulthood), their teachers and supporters, developing rich media web content using Multimedia Self Advocacy Approach and the specially designed ‘Klik in’ platform.

The ‘Klik in’ Web2.0 platform was designed to enable people with ID to express their views and preferences using pictures, videos, sounds and text and to share these with their peers and supporters. Easy-to-use learning materials and a standardised pedagogic approach were also developed to assist learners and supporters throughout the project. The project is being monitored and evaluated using mostly quantitative instruments, although some qualitative data is also being collected and will inform final findings. The early results indicate that learners with ID are motivated to work with rich media content and the web 2.0 ‘Klik in’ platform and are able to express their right to self advocacy.