e-Empowerment of young adults with special needs Behind the computer screen I am not disabled

Abstract

The Internet has opened up a range of new communication opportunities for people with special needs since it is an accessible communication medium that provides an opportunity to exchange practical information and support and to experience an accepting relationship with less prejudice. To date, few computer-mediated support intervention programs have been designed especially to support the socio-emotional needs of people with special needs. This paper presents the results of a study that evaluated an electronic mentoring intervention program designed to provide socio-emotional support for protégés with disabilities by mentors who also have disabilities. Using a qualitative research design, the study characterized the electronic mentoring process and its contributions from the mentors' point of view. The findings provided support for the potential of electronic mentoring for personal development and empowerment of young adults with special needs.