Connection brokers: How educators work within and between social networks to cultivate community digital resilience to support children with disabilities using the Internet

Hammond, Simon P. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0473-3610, D'Arcy, Jeanette and Polizzi, Gianfranco (2023) Connection brokers: How educators work within and between social networks to cultivate community digital resilience to support children with disabilities using the Internet. New Media and Society. ISSN 1461-4448

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Abstract

For children with disabilities, being online can have great benefits, and being part of a well-connected community pays dividends. Research has focused on the development of digital resilience at an individual level but the ways in which surrounding networks of community support impact this is underexplored. Drawing on digital resilience as a socio-ecological concept and undertaking a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with educators, this article addresses this gap by exploring how educators work within and between community networks to support children with disabilities online. Findings suggest that educators are key connection brokers who activate and provide access to a variety of assets and manage pools of resources to build digital resilience at a community level as well as for the individual. We note, however, that addressing structural holes to allow information to flow beyond the community level is challenging and requires continued investment to cultivate greater capacity.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Funding: The research featured in this publication was supported by funding from Internet Matters.
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Education and Lifelong Learning
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Centres > Centre for Research on Children and Families
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	27 Feb 2023 09:30
Last Modified:	03 Jul 2023 23:52
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/91271
DOI:	10.1177/14614448231157330

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