Engaging People withDisabilities through 
Social Media 

MICHELLE (SHELL) SCHWARTZ 
DISABILITY SERVICES PROGRAM DIRECTOR 
DIANNE KING 
DISABILITY SERVICES TECHNICAL WRITER 

© 2015 THE SAFE ALLIANCE 1 

Topic Outline 

1) Why explore social media use? 
2) What we already knew 
3) What we did 
4) What people with disabilities told us 
5) Recommendations 
6) Limitations 
7) What’s next? 

Background 

SAFEPLACE AND DISABILITY RIGHTS TEXAS – 
PROJECT PARTNERS SINCE 2006. 

INCREASING ACCESSIBILITY AND OUTREACH 
TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND DEAF 
PEOPLE THROUGH BOTH AGENCIES. 



Why exploresocial media use 

BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 


Project Goal:
Gather Information 


• Determine how social media is used by 
people with disabilities. 
• Determine how social service agencies 
can engage people with disabilities 
through social media platforms. 
• Develop next steps plan. 

What we 
already knew 

(WHAT THE RESEARCH TOLD US) 


Access to Social Media? 

• Fewer people with disabilities have 
access to the Internet than people 
without disabilities – 54% vs. 81%. 
• At least half of people with 
disabilities polled reported access 
to some form of social media. 
(Pew Research Center, 2011) 


Facebook and LinkedIn 

How are people with disabilities using 

Facebook and LinkedIn? 
1.Network 
2.Services 
3.Outreach 
4.Education 
5.Advocacy 
(Baker, et al., 2013) 



Barriers to Using Social Media 

• Lack of Internet access. 
• Both device used and social media 
platforms need to be accessible. 
• Lack of available training and experience in 
how to use the Internet and social media. 
“Despite these access issues, people with 
disabilities do use social media as a way to interact 
and gain information.” 

(Sweet & LeBlanc, 2013) 


Abuse and People with Disabilities 

• Crimes against people with disabilities 3 times 
higher than against people without disabilities 
(U.S. Department of Justice, 2012) 
• Sexual assault 7 times more likely for women 
with disabilities (Martin, et al., 2006) 
• 67% of 200 women with physical and/or 
intellectual disabilities reported lifetime 
physical abuse; 53% reported lifetime sexual 
abuse (Powers, et al., 2002) 

What we did 

AND WHAT WE WANTED TO FIND OUT 


What We Wanted to Know 

1. Should social service agencies engage and 
do outreach to people with disabilities on 
issues related to interpersonal violence? 
2. How can social service agencies effectively 
engage people with disabilities through 
social media platforms to provide 
information? 

Process 

üDeveloped questions and protocols with DRTx . 
üTx A&M doctoral students reviewed/gave input. 
üConducted 5 interviews and 7 discussion 
groups. 
üTalked to 51 adults with a range of disabilities. 

Questions 

Participants with disabilities 

responded to six open-ended 

questions and five multiple-choice 

questions. 



Discussion Groups 

• Adapt of Texas (national disability civil rights group) 
• The Arc of the Capital Area 
• Austin Clubhouse (mental health group) 
• Disability Rights Texas PAIMI Council (Protection and 
Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness) 
• Easter Seals of Central Texas 
• Mary Lee Foundation (residential provider) 
• National Federation for the Blind–Austin Chapter 
• SafePlace Disability Services Program Advisory Committee 
• Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired 
(transition-aged youth) 

Participants Had 
the Following Disabilities: 

• Traumatic brain injury 
• Blind 
• Intellectual and/or developmental 
disability 
• Autism spectrum disorder 
• Mental illness/mental health 
• Physical disability 
• Multiple disabilities 

What people with 
disabilities told us… 

ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA 


Do people with disabilities 
use social media? 


94% of those interviewed said yes. 



Why do people with 
disabilities use social media? 

70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

Tokeepupwithfriendsasa Tofollowissues To find out about events Tolearnaboutthings Other 
social tool 


What social media do 
people with disabilities follow? 


80% 

70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Blogs Google+ Other None 


How often do people with 
disabilities use social media? 

70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

Multiple timesaday A fewtimesa week Onceaday Onceaweek Lessthanonceaweek Never 


How can we attract people with disabilitiesto our social media sites? 

80% 
70% 
60% 
50% 
40% 
30% 
20% 
10% 
0% 

Send Information to Post information about Have contributors with "Friend" certain groups Include pictures of Get people engaged on 
disability service diversity disabilities people with disabilities pages with video, quiz or 
agencies contests 


What would make you “like” or become 
a fan or post a comment on Facebook or Twitter? 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

Free events Requests for help Seeing someone Something posted Information that Politics Something of Offers for free 
you know become by someone you would help you in interest things, discounts, 
a fan know your life coupons 


What topics would you be interested 
in following through social media? 

90% 
80% 
70% 
60% 
50% 
40% 
30% 
20% 
10% 
0% 

Safety Legalresourcesand Healthyrelationships Findinghelpfor Recognizingabuse Howto volunteer Sexuality 
rights abuseorassault 


However… 

• “I don’t like it so much, I like face to face.” 
• “I’m not really a big fan of technology. I’m an 
old-fashioned guy, I use cell phones.” 
• “I don’t know how to access everything or find 
time to respond to everything.” 
• “It gets too confusing and time consuming.” 

Recommendations 

BY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES 


Overview 

1. Accessibility 
2. Content/format 
3. Outreach 

Overview 

1. Accessibility 
2. Content/format 
3. Outreach 

1. Accessibility 
• “A lot of people [with disabilities] are poor and do 
not have resources for computers and tablets.” 
• “Some people are slow with certain disabilities 
…explain it slower so they get it and process it.” 
• “Have more text …that gets that message across 
in a fairly simple way.” 

Accessibility Needs 

People with disabilities need both: 

• accessible devices 
platforms 
• accessible social media 

AccessibilityRecommendations 


Ask people with disabilities about 
the accessibility of your social media 
platforms and websites. 



AccessibilityRecommendations (continued) 


• Balance text and graphics for readers who 
are blind or have visual impairments. 
• Provide text descriptions of pictures/graphs. 
• Keep content brief, to the point, and easy to 
access. 
• Format content with clear headings and a 
topic sentence or summary statement. 

AccessibilityRecommendations (continued) 


• Use a variety of social 
media sites. 
• Add an open-ended 
survey link to agency 
websites for suggested 
changes from users. 

Long-term Accessibility 
Recommendation 


Because 46% of people with disabilities do not 
have access to the Internet,* partner with other 
agencies to provide computer and social media 
training to people with disabilities. 

*(Pew Research Center, 2011) 



Content/FormatRecommendations 


• “No pictures of people getting 
checks!” 
• “Tell people what they need to 
know to get services.” 
• “You have 5 seconds to reach 
someone.” 
• “Be like an English teacher; give 
the topic sentence.” 

Content/Format:
Increasing Safety 


• Address Internet privacy, safety and 
confidentiality. 
• Provide an anonymous online 
discussion area. 

Content/Format:
Relevant, Interesting & Brief 


• Again, keep website and social media 
posts relevant, brief and easy to access. 
• Avoid advertisements, public relations 
or fundraising photos and topics. 

Content/Format:
Include People with Disabilities 


“Engage us, not the people who support us, 
our family, caregivers, etc.” 

• Seek people with disabilities as regular 
contributors. 
• Develop ways for people with disabilities to 
post, learn and share with each other and 
the community. 

Content/Format:
Keep it Fresh and Active 


• Update content at least weekly. 
• Include art, pictures, poetry, music, 
inspirational quotes. 
• Post relevant questions to keep discussions 
active. 
• Engage users through contests/promotions. 

Content/Format:
Engage and Educate 


Topics people most interested 

in:* 


• ways to increase safety 
• legal resources and rights 
• healthy and respectful
relationships 

• where to find help for 
abuse and assault 

◦ *from closed, multiple-choice 
question 


3. Outreach 
Recommendations 
• “I’m really hesitant to vote for something 
because I don’t want them to spam me.” 
• “I tend to follow things that I feel will have 
an impact on me or someone I’m close to for 
whatever reason.” 
• “If I’m needing your services, I’m not going 
to ‘like’ you.” 

Outreach: Trainings 

Use social media to promote and provide 
education and training on disability-
specific aspects of abuse and healthy 
relationships, safer sexuality, advocacy 
and legal rights. 



Outreach: Collaboration 

• Collaborate with disability and crisis service 
organizations for web content and stories. 
• Use agency newsletters to promote other 
agencies. 
• Provide links to resources, including local 
transportation options and other websites 
for people with disabilities. 

Outreach: Talk to Us 

• Explore ways to reach people who have experienced 
trauma and/or have mental health needs. 
• Provide a confidential avenue for people to learn about 
services. 
• Be clear what will happen when you ask someone to like 
or become a fan of your agency. 

Outreach: Ask Us 

• Ask people with disabilities to suggest 
social media campaigns. 
• Suggested outreach campaigns: 
o 
agency appeals for help 
o 
free events 
o 
information that could be helpful 
and/or was posted by trusted 
source. 

Limitations 


• Social media examples 
• Transcripts 
• Recruitment 
• Rapid changes in social 
media 

What’s Next? 

• Develop guidelines for 
safety with social media. 
• Engage women with 
disabilities to submit 
blogs, articles, video, art. 
• Disseminate material on 
project and community 
websites and social 
media. 

Questions? 



References 

Asuncion, J., Fichen, C., Budd, J., Gaulin, C., Amsel, R., and Barile, M. 
(2010). Preliminary findings on social media use and accessibility: A 
Canadian perspective. Presentation at the CSUN International 
Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, San Diego, 
March 26, 2010. Retrieved from 
http://www.adaptech.org/pubs/abPreliminaryFindingsOnSocialMedia 
Use 

Baker, P.M.A., Bricout, J.C., Moon, N.W., Coughlan, B. & Pater, J. 
(2013) Communities of participation: A comparison of disability and 
again identified groups on Facebook and LinkdIn. Telematics and 
Informatics, 30, pp. 22-34. 


References 

Martin, S.L., Ray, N., Sotres-Alvarez, D., Kupper, L.L., Moracco, K.E., 
Dickens, P.A., et al. (2006). Physical and sexual assault of women 
with disabilities. Violence Against Women. 12(9), 823-837. 

Pew Research Center. (2011, January 21). Americans living with 
disability and their technology profile. Pew Internet & American Life 
Project. Retrieved from: 
http://pewInternet.org/Reports/2011/Disability.aspx 

Powers, L.E., Curry, M.A., Oschwald, M., Maley, S., Saxton, M., & 
Eckels, K. (2002) Barriers and strategies in addressing abuse: A 
survey of disabled women’s experiences – PAS Abuse Survey. The 
Journal of Rehabilitation, 68(1), 4-13. 


References 

Sweet, K. & J LeBlanc. (2013). A qualitative study on social media use 
by people with disabilities. Presented to SafePlace and Disability 
Rights Texas by Kayla Sweet and Jennifer LeBlanc, research 
consultants, under the direction of Laura M. Stough, Ph.D. 
Department of Educational Psychology, Texas A&M University. 
College Station: TX. 

U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2012). Crime 
against people with disabilities. 2009-2011 statistical tables. 
Retrieved July 10, 2013 from 
www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=4574