The main question is how their needs and possibilities fit in with existing teaching packages and training. The results are intended for those directly involved, but are also relevant for policy. The research, called DigAble, is led by Viveon, the academic workplace of 's Heeren Loo and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, with professor Carlo Schuengel as the main applicant, and is carried out by a research consortium including VU orthopedagogue Ina Koning and VU professor Sander Begeer (Diversity in Autism). DigAble receives the subsidy of 863 thousand euros from the National Science Agenda (NWA), from the program Vulnerability and resilience in an online society.
Carlo Schuengel: "It is important that we are going to do this research together. This project is about a question that young people and educators have, so we are going to investigate that together with them."
Long-term effects
The demand for research into the digitalisation of society after the corona pandemic also comes from the government. The National Knowledge Agenda Online Society, which was developed by seven ministries, asks for knowledge to deal appropriately with the long-term effects of the digitalisation of our world. In order to be able to develop policy from there that suits all young people and their educators.
Moment of rest
Ina Koning adds: “An example of how the balance between opportunities and risks can be different for young people with neurodivergence is the advantage it can have for the parents. Parents of these young people can also find raising them challenging, but can actually have a moment of rest themselves when their child is online. So the advantage of using these digital media can be even greater for these parents, while we also know that these young people run more risks online. What do parents need to be able to better weigh the pros and cons in this regard?”
In addition to the needs of young people and their environment, existing interventions that are already available will also be examined. For example, media literacy lesson packages, digital literacy training or information provision to educators. “We don’t yet know whether these interventions are also helpful for neurodivergent young people. We would really like to know, so that we can use these tools in a targeted manner. Or we can recommend other measures to also offer these young people a good digital experience,” says Schuengel.
Collaboration partners
To make DigAble a success, a group of collaboration partners has been put together with a wide variety of backgrounds. In addition to researchers from the VU, these are Peter Nikken (Windesheim University of Applied Sciences), Svenja Büttner (Windesheim University of Applied Sciences), Rogier de Groot (Leiden University of Applied Sciences), Hendrien Kaal (Leiden University of Applied Sciences), Helen Vossen (Utrecht University) and Regina van der Eijnden (Utrecht University). The social partners in the project are represented by Wouter van der Horst (media literacy professorship, MBOmediawijs.nl), Joli Luijckx (Parents' Association Balans), Marjolein Oomes (Royal Library), Sylvia Vlaardingerbroek (NJi), Jolanda Douma (National Knowledge Centre LVB) and Daniella Overbeek (Agora Foundation). Information about the project and its progress can be found on the Viveon website.