Digital accessibility for voluntary and community sector organisations delivering services to people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people: Research briefing

Background
During the Covid-19 pandemic there was a significant rise in health and care services delivering services remotely, including by voluntary and community sector organisations (VCSOs) to adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic people. However, there was not enough research evidence of how different technologies are used, what works well or not well, for whom, and in what circumstances to support the diverse needs of adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic people.
To address this evidence gap, Leeds Beckett University carried out a participatory realist review in partnership with 100% Digital Leeds, Pyramid and the Autism and Learning Disabilities Digital Inclusion Network (ALaDDIN) to explore how VCSOs can appropriately use digital technologies alongside or instead of in-person activity (hybrid delivery) to provide social care services to different adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic people.

Methods
This briefing is based on the findings of the participatory realist review. The research involved:
• Five workshop and focus group discussions with people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people and representatives from VCSOs who worked with them,
• A comprehensive review of relevant published research, guidance and policy, and
• A deliberative hearing event to bring together findings from research and lived experience

Results
Everyone has the right to choose how they engage with the digital world!
The workshop discussions and preliminary literature review produced 13 areas of interest that we explored in the realist review. The review included 141 articles in total and, following our discussions of the findings with service deliverers and users at the deliberative hearing event,
led to six top tips for VCSOs using digital technology for delivering services to people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people.

https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/research/centre-for...