Offline communication use

Describes how adults with cp communicate with family members and friends using offline (conventional) communication. All the participants reported using offline communication; some participants reported using telephones and text message. Four of the participants interviewed described:

Example 1:

“INTERVIEWEE: sometimes phone”

Example 2:

“INTERVIEWER: sometimes you use a telephone?

INTERVIEWEE: or text

INTERVIEWER: do you have a mobile phone to do that?

INTERVIEWEE: yeah … weekends I don’t use it at all … I use it about 5 times a day texting”

Example 3:

“INTERVIEWEE: I have got a mobile so I call them up and they call me up”

Example 4:

“INTERVIEWEE: texting I use most calls but it depends on the person they know me I can call them up because they know how I talk so they are more patient with me if not I text them”

However some of the participants reported problems using telephones because of speech or upper-limb impairments. Whilst others were unable to send text messages due to their upper-upper-limb

impairments and required support individuals to write messages on their behalf. Participants reported that this support often affected their communication privacy and independence. Four of the

participants interviewed described:

Example 5:

“INTERVIEWEE: oh no it is very difficult for me because I am on sticks and when someone rings my disability goes up the wall and I fall in the road so I don’t bother … I can’t drop my sticks and answer the phone … unless I can sit down … but if I am walking and someone rings I cant answer it, I cant answer the phone because there are no seats”

Example 6:

“INTERVIEWEE_PA: when her phone rings her personal assistant answers and if she wants to send a text she has to type and I have to see it which doesn’t give you much privacy isn’t it?

INTERVIEWEE: yes

INTERVIEWEE: that’s why you said my first priority is I want to do it myself isn’t it INTERVIEWEE: yes”

Example 7:

“INTERVIEWEE: asking who every carer working to text them”

Example 8:

“INTERVIEWEE_PA: she used to get the carer to send text messages like hugs and I love you but she would shorten it down because she would get bored when she would have to put the whole sentence together

INTERVIEWEE: yes”

Furthermore most of the participants reported they were unable to use telephone communication due to natural speech impairments. Participants preferred face-to-face or text message communication.

Four of the participants interviewed described:

Example 9:

“INTERVIEWEE: face-to-face no it depends I do like using the phone because of my speech I have such a preference between phone and the internet it would have to be the internet 100%

of the time … it is ok if you don’t see me you know about cp so you are clued in 100% but someone not knowing anything about cp they hear me they don’t see me”

Example 10:

“INTERVIEWEE: voice … hmm if they can’t understand me I prefer email them”

Example 11:

“INTERVIEWER: do you use phones at any times?

INTERVIEWEE: no I cant … I really don’t like phones … people don’t understand me”

Example 12:

“INTERVIEWEE: I would go and text message and I would phone … I prefer texting than calling … because it is cheaper and it is more easier”

The participants also reported using letters and postcards to communicate but used them infrequently.

One participant reported requiring a support individual to write handwritten letters on the participants behalf. Whilst another participant reported only writing letters on the computer because it was easier.

Four of the participants interviewed described:

Example 13:

“INTERVIEWEE: write letters very occasionally”

Example 14:

“INTERVIEWEE: yeah write letters INTERVIEWER: do you do that often?

INTERVIEWEE: no not really

INTERVIEWER: do you hand write them?

INTERVIEWEE: Oh no I use Word … it is easier … because I can type it and save it and I can print it and I can always say I have written it and always go back”

Example 15:

“INTERVIEWEE: I’m writing postcards, emails using mobile phones, line line phone… face to face communicate … I like to write letters…as a child I was writing letters quite a lot”

Example 16:

“INTERVIEWEE: I send yes hmm my mum writes letters on the computer and sends them of for me”

Additionally other participants reported favouring face-to-face communication. They met their friends regularly in bars, pubs, restaurants, shopping malls and centres and clubs directed at people with disabilities. Two of the participants interviewed described:

Example 17:

“INTERVIEWER: do you every meet people face-to-face?

INTERVIEWEE: yes I do that all that all the time if I can … anywhere restaurant or bars it depends on my friends or my friends house or bars what they want … often meet my friends everyday and we go out once a week we go out we do it quite often to catch up … I would go to the pub and have a few pints once or twice a month I will a chess matches with the chess club”

Example 18:

“INTERVIEWEE: I will meet people”

Furthermore participants reported requiring help from a support individual to organise face-to-face communication. One of the participants interviewed described:

Example 19:

“INTERVIEWEE_PA: mum had to organise it and the personal assistant as well to go with her and she would choose which venue they were going to meet and the other personal assistant it depending which one was working and which had a day of the week

INTERVIEWEE: yes”

However most of the participants reported favouring face-to-face communication but were unable to use this type of communication as often as they would like. One of the participants interviewed reported:

Example 20:

“INTERVIEWEE: I’d rather using old fashioned way of communication”

Finally participants reported face-to-face communication was impossible, meaning that they often felt isolated and unhappy. One of the participants interviewed described:

Example 21:

“INTERVIEWEE_PA: you used to come home very sad and people don’t communicate with you and ignoring you wasn’t it?

INTERVIEWEE: yes”.

3.4.4.1 Discussion

The results from the study indicated that offline communication use among adults with cp in this sample is 100%. The participants favoured face-to-face communication, regularly meeting friends in bars, pubs, restaurants, shopping malls and centres and clubs directed at people with disabilities.

However the study indicated that they were unable to use face-to-face communication as often as they would like. Additionally the participants found face-to-face communication difficult or impossible.

This aspect of the study produced results that partially corroborate the findings of previous work in this field. Pilling (2004) survey of 193 people with disabilities reported only 60% of people used conventional methods for example phone, and letters for keeping in touch with people. Ballin and Balandin (2007) stated face-to-face communication is often difficult among people with disabilities due to insufficient time to communicate.

Another finding was that adults with cp in this sample often used telephone and text message communication. However the study indicated that telephone communication was difficult due to speech or upper-limb impairments. This aspect of the study produced results that corroborate the findings of previous work in this field. Ballin and Balandin (2007) stated people with disabilities often have difficulties using telephone communication as it can be timely and hard to understand.

The final finding was that offline communication among adults with cp in this sample often required support individuals to send text messages, answer telephone calls, and write letters. The study

indicated that the support required often negatively affects communication privacy and independence.

This aspect of the study produced results that do not corroborate the findings of previous work in this field.