Online safety for clients accessing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)

This leaflet is aimed at professionals working with people who use augmentative and assistive communication (AAC). It aims to outline some of the benefits and risks of Internet access and to support you in the informed decision-making process.

Equipment provided by the Communication Aid Service East of England (CASEE)

The Communication Aid Service East of England (CASEE) provides equipment to enable face-to-face communication. Many of these devices also have the capability to connect to the Internet, providing additional communication opportunities through email, social media and online networking.

This access can be hugely beneficial but also carries some risks. It is important that clients and all those involved in supporting them fully understand the benefits and risks.

Safe use of the device is the responsibility of the client, their family and their local therapy team. The client may take responsibility for their own online safety where they are deemed to have capacity (see information about the Mental Capacity Act below), or a ‘best interests’ decision may be made to appoint someone to ensure they remain safe whilst online. CASEE will need to be informed of the outcome of these discussions before Internet and social media can be enabled on any devices supplied. The information below is provided to help start and support these discussions.

It is important to consider the benefits and risks of Internet and social media access and detail the support that the AAC user will need to ensure this is safe.

Benefits and risks of enabling access to the Internet

Benefits

The benefits of using the Internet have been explored in AAC research; particularly focusing on individuals who use AAC. As technology develops, the use of the Internet as a communication tool is more important than it has ever been.

Some benefits of enabling internet access include:

• enhancing communication
• social networking
• developing and maintaining relationships
• empowerment through accessing solutions
• heightening safety awareness and managing online identity
• peer support and connectivity
• increased functionality and interconnectivity
• increasing awareness of AAC and social acceptance

Risks

It is important to also be aware of the risks to ensure a fully informed decision is made. The risks can include the following:

• accessing inappropriate material (which could include pornographic, hateful or violent material)
• physical danger (through grooming)
• bullying (receiving hurtful or upsetting messages)
• illegal activity or behaviour (through participation in hate websites, access to sites selling or providing information on illegal activities)
• divulging personal information (providing contact details, address, age etc to people they do not know)

The Mental Capacity Act (2005)

This legislation came into force in England and Wales in 2007 and stipulates that people must be supported to make their own decisions where possible and appropriate. The team around the person must make a 'best interests' decision where this is not possible.

The Mental Capacity Act states that it is important to:

• assume a person has the capacity to make a decision themselves, unless it's proved otherwise
• wherever possible, help people to make their own decisions
• not treat a person as lacking the capacity to make a decision just because they make an unwise decision
• ensure that any decision made on behalf of a person who lacks capacity is made in their best interests
• provide treatment and care to someone who lacks capacity in a way that is least restrictive of their basic rights and freedoms

Contact details for CASEE

Telephone: 01223 349401
Email CASEE enquiries

Further information

Organisation links

• Information about the Mental Capacity Act (opens in a new tab) – NHS
• Advice on staying secure online (opens in a new tab) – UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
• Communication & Social Networking (opens in a new tab) – GetSafeOnline.org
• Cyberbullying: Advice for headteachers and school staff (opens in a new tab) (PDF) – gov.uk Department of Health
• Learning Disabilities, Autism and Internet Safety: A Guide for Parents (opens in a new tab) (PDF) – mencap
• Reporting online sexual abuse (opens in a new tab) – National Crime Agency (NCA) Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP)
• Help your children get the most out of the Internet (opens in a new tab) – NCA CEOP
• Free resources for parents and carers 2018 (opens in a new tab) – Childnet

Legislation

Defamation Act 2013
Protection from Harassment Act 1997
Malicious Communications Act 1988
Communications Act 2003
Mental Health Act 2005

Further reading

Chadwick D, Quinn S, Fullwood C (2016) Perceptions of the risks and benefits of Internet access and use by people with intellectual disabilities. British Journal of Learning Disabilities Volume 45 Issue 1 pp21-31

McNaughton D, Light J (2013) The iPad and Mobile Technology Revolution: Benefits and Challenges for Individuals who require Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Augmentative and Alternative Communication 29(2) pp107–116

O’Keeffe GS, Clarke-Pearson K & Council on Communications and Media (2011) The impact of social media on children, adolescents, and families. Pediatrics 127 pp800-804

Lathouwers K, de Moor J. Didden R (2009) Access to and use of internet by adolescents who have a physical disability: A comparative study. Research in Developmental Disabilities 30 pp702-711

Soderstrom S (2009) Offline social ties and online use of computers: A study of disabled youth and their use of ICT advances. New Media Society 11 pp709-727