Disability Lifestyles: A web-based information service

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Disability LifestylesA web-based information
service

• Gunela Astbrink
• GSA Information Consultants
• for CONROD, Australia
• IFDM, Brisbane. 9th October 2006

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Aims of the information service

• Helps people restart their lives after having an
  accident resulting in serious injury
• Specifically designed for Queenslanders with
  disability but may be relevant for people in
  other locations
• Can act as a bridge between rehabilitation and
  active participation in the community

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Background research

• Research into information requirements of people
  with disabilities
• Workshop with disability information providers
• Ethnographic study of people with disabilities
  and their use of online information in everyday
  contexts
• Interviews with key disability organisations
• Focus groups with people with disabilities
  experienced in online seeking of information
• Outcomes informed development of Disability
  Lifestyles online information service

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Research outcomes

• Need for information and experience sharing as
  way of finding options suitable for each
  individual
• Online resources are an important avenue to
  obtain information
• Importance of linking to relevant online services
• Ease of navigation in web sites
• Web design to meet several different requirements
• Need to consider peoples' everyday context

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Further research

• Usability testing
• Evaluating peoples' reactions to service based on
  observation of their use of the web site
• Assisted in fine-tuning information service and
  web site to best meet the requirements of people
  with disabilities

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Key features

• Seven lifestyle areas
• Learning new skills
• Working
• Having fun
• Getting around
• Finding a good place to live
• Personal support
• Relationships
• Accessible towns
• Ways of coping
• Personal stories
• People can get ideas and share experiences

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Example The Working section

• Reducing complexity of information
• Use of direct and simplified language
• Written from the experience of people with
  disabilities
• Addressing specific issues
• eg. when to disclose your disability
• Providing and linking to key assistance
• eg. writing a letter of application
• Assisting people know what questions to ask their
  service provider
• Linking to key websites

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Promotional activities

• Launch
• Brochure and poster
• Distribution of brochure and poster to Qld.
  disability organisations, public libraries and
  Centrelink offices
• Regular information in Spinal Injuries
  Association newsletter
• Queensland State Government's Connect magazine
• Workshop with disability workers at Disability
  Services Queensland's Sharing the Road
• International awareness

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Future plans

• Ongoing maintenance of web site content
• Expansion of content
• accessible facilities in Queensland towns
• accessible holiday travel
• More photographs
• Further promotion
• Research into longer-term impact of website on
  peoples' lives

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The people behind the website

• Content developers
• Francis Vicary
• Michele Morley
• Key advice
• Queensland Advocacy Inc.
• Social research
• Prof. Patricia Gillard
• Technical development
• University of Qld.
• Finance and support
• CONROD
• Project management
• Gunela Astbrink Michele Morley (Photo
  courtesy of Disability Services Qld)

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Please give feedback!

• http//www.disabilitylifestyles.org.au
• Contact Gunela Astbrink
• g.astbrink_at_gsa.com.au