Parents of Children with Disabilities Evaluate the Importance of the Computer in Child Development

Abstract

Significant progress has been made during the past ten years in the development of new computer-based technology for children. Computers have gained increased importance in many different parts of society, including that of children with disabilities. This article reports on parents' experiences and expectations concerning the importance of computers in child development and describes the history and philosophy of Computer Play Centers (CPCs). The study includes 180 families having children with different types of disabilities attending CPCs. The parents evaluated the importance of computers for their children within ten different areas of development The results showed that parents had clear and firm opinions concerning the computer's importance for the development of their children. In order to develop new technology and new software for children, a new way of thinking is needed, in which the individual and family are given the opportunity to describe different aspects of what they associate with development.