For this post, I am
required to discuss the topic of online communities. First I will explore what
an online community is, then give examples of online communities relating to a
fieldwork experience.
Online communities are defined exactly as
they are named, communities that are online. A community is described best by
Christiansen & Townsend as a “bond among people with strongly similar
backgrounds and interests (2010, p.177). Online simply means to be “accessible
via a computer or computer network” (Free Online Dictionary, 2012). So an
online community is just that, a community that is accessed by computer.
During my first fieldwork placement, I was
introduced to a number of clients who are all experiencing different conditions
and handicaps within their lives. Meeting and working with these clients gave
me great insight into what some people have to adapt to in the time of
sickness. Whether this is a short time injury, or is a longer, continuing
illness. There are three clients whose case I remember well and stuck with me.
The first is a double-amputee, each leg’s amputation only months apart. His
adaption to from having two legs, to one, then to no legs, was inspirational.
He had become confident in transfers, had modifications made to his house and
recovered well due to his positive attitude. The only challenge he faced was
accessing his house, a ramp was built and his wheelchair was modified to have
mountain climbing breaks. However, nothing could be done to prevent his access
outside of this home. Public ramps may appear to be ‘wheelchair friendly’ may
not be.
This first online
community, titled ‘Wheelchair Ramps from Hell’, share a bond over the issue of
ramp access. A ramp is usually, when constructed correctly, are safe, sturdy structures that allow
disabled people access to places they might otherwise not be able to go”
(Shadow, 2012).
Here, however, ramps
have been shown to be more impeding
than beneficial to the user.
This page allows
others to contribute as any other Facebook page; join, like, share photo’s and
post comments, this is exactly what users have done.
The second scenario, which has remained
with me, concerns to clients, who, I feel may have benefited from an online
community, were sufferers of Motor-Neuron Disease (MND). With this condition,
symptoms may occur at different rates from person to person, one patient may
decline quicker than another, but the final outcome is certain. This is where
support for both the patient and family is crucial into gaining further
understanding of this disease.
PatientsLikeMe is a worldwide company who
was co-founded for the benefit of patients to transform the management of their
own conditions through a health data-sharing platform. PatientsLikeMe is
committed in putting patients first by providing a way for them to share their
health experiences. This helps the patients themselves, other patients, and
organizations to better understand your condition (PatientsLikeMe, 2012). http://www.patientslikeme.com/
While spending an afternoon with another OT
from the Community unit, I meet clients with minor disabilities, some more
noticeable than others. Some clients were very active with their disability,
much like these people in the next online community.
The third online community is set up by the
My Handicap Foundation and is a self-acclaimed “online discussion board for
people with disabilities and their social environment in which people with
disabilities can exchange worldwide about health issues and aids, trips and
mobility, relationship and family” (My Handicap.com, 2012). As stated, this
community is for the disabled to share in thoughts and feelings regarding their
disability. This site appears to be very interactive showing articles related
to disability and many other topics, a question forum, information and support.
Anyone is able to register to MyHandicap.com and contribute, which may include
donations, asking questions as well as giving answers to others’ questions and
post links to their own personal blogs. http://www.myhandicap.com/index.php?id=3753
These three communities provide the users
with answers, support and the knowledge that they are not alone in their
journey. This is what the users are seeking and receiving by actively joining
these online communities. The relationships users form can be reciprocal or as
one sided as they wish, they have control of their contribution to the
community.
As you may have noticed, all three of these
online communities have one thing in common; their lives have been greatly
affected by their condition and want to share their experiences with others. The
users are suffering from occupational deprivation and are creating occupational
identity. Occupational deprivation refers to an occupation in which a person
can no longer participate due to circumstances.
Occupational identify is when a person
feels they have an occupational role, here this is the role to share with
others and give support.
With all Internet activity, ethical
considerations should be taken into account. The Internet can be accessed by
anyone with little to no personal identification, or evidence that they are who
they say, and what they say is truthful. These online communities hold a lot of
trust and sensitive, personal elements that could be abused by others. Photos
can be made public and misused; information and personal stories could be
misinterpreted or offend. To avoid any potential ethical issues arising, one
should not upload or share anything onto the Internet they don’t want the world
to see, because that is how widespread the data can be sent.
This is one of the limitations of online
communities. Many people who share information about personal health may be in
a sensitive state, any offence made may cause grief or potential psychological
harm. Joining an online community requires no identification, so anyone can
join with false pretenses.
On a lighter note, benefits of online
communities include relationships and support that may have otherwise been
absent, with people who share a bond of health and interest rather than
geographical location of traditional communities. Support can be sent from
around the world, from people who are in much the same situation. In making
this blog, I have explored online communities in order to find information on
how to upload slideshows, photos and much more. The help I found was amazing
and helped me to complete my blog post. I feel this is the one of the key
reasons why online communities are so great.
Christiansen, C. & Townsend, E. (2010).
Introduction to occupation:
The Art of Science and Living (2nd ed.). USA:
Pearson, p.177.
