Affiliations: SITREC (Stockholm International Toy Research Centre), Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden. E-mail: Peg@sitrec.kth.se; Jane@sitrec.kth.se | [x] SIVA, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, via Capecelatro 66, I-20148 Milano, Italy. E-mail: serenella.besio@siva.it | [y] STAKES, National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health, PL 220, 00531 Helsinki, Finland. Tel.: +358 40 5600935; E-mail: Anna-Liisa.Salminen@stakes.fi
Abstract: This brief report discusses Information and Communication Technology (ICT), a contemporary phenomenon that can be said to change and affect our life patterns and our opportunities in many situations. A question is what experiences and needs parents and children with disabilities have and how these needs have been created. How do they experience ICT and what role does ICT have in their lives? What is included in the messages contributed by parents and children thus becomes central. The results show that certain skills learned via the computer can lead to social gains, e.g. play and communication with peers. Another result is that new technology can help the child to show his/her skills.
