<p>Australian researchers have revealed how micro-blogging website Twitter can help people who have experienced strokes, cerebral palsy, autism, motor neurone disease and traumatic brain injury to find a "voice".<br /><br /></p>.<p>The initial findings indicate that Twitter can help people with communication disabilities share information and feel more included.<br /><br />"We are seeing that Twitter can not only provide a 'voice' for people with communication disabilities, but also an 'audience' - and this helps them to feel empowered and in control of their own lives," explained lead researcher and speech pathologist Bronwyn Hemsley from University of Newcastle.<br /><br />According to researchers, many people with communication disabilities who use assistive technologies already knew how to make their communication short and succinct and, therefore, tended to flourish on Twitter.<br /><br />Often, people with little or no functional speech find that listeners try to finish their sentences for them or speak on their behalf.<br /><br />"They are used to crafting short messages carefully. Where other users might be at a disadvantage by 140 character limits, people who struggle to speak might have had lifelong practice in making every word count," Hemsley said in a university statement.<br /><br />In many ways, Twitter might level the playing field, liberating users from stereotypes and enabling self-advocacy, she noted.<br /><br />The research team will soon embark on the second phase of the three-year project to investigate the benefits of online Twitter training, how networks develop and how people with communication disabilities experience Twitter over a six month period.<br /><br />The further research will involve adults with cerebral palsy, stroke, autism, motor neurone disease or traumatic brain injury.</p>
<p>Australian researchers have revealed how micro-blogging website Twitter can help people who have experienced strokes, cerebral palsy, autism, motor neurone disease and traumatic brain injury to find a "voice".<br /><br /></p>.<p>The initial findings indicate that Twitter can help people with communication disabilities share information and feel more included.<br /><br />"We are seeing that Twitter can not only provide a 'voice' for people with communication disabilities, but also an 'audience' - and this helps them to feel empowered and in control of their own lives," explained lead researcher and speech pathologist Bronwyn Hemsley from University of Newcastle.<br /><br />According to researchers, many people with communication disabilities who use assistive technologies already knew how to make their communication short and succinct and, therefore, tended to flourish on Twitter.<br /><br />Often, people with little or no functional speech find that listeners try to finish their sentences for them or speak on their behalf.<br /><br />"They are used to crafting short messages carefully. Where other users might be at a disadvantage by 140 character limits, people who struggle to speak might have had lifelong practice in making every word count," Hemsley said in a university statement.<br /><br />In many ways, Twitter might level the playing field, liberating users from stereotypes and enabling self-advocacy, she noted.<br /><br />The research team will soon embark on the second phase of the three-year project to investigate the benefits of online Twitter training, how networks develop and how people with communication disabilities experience Twitter over a six month period.<br /><br />The further research will involve adults with cerebral palsy, stroke, autism, motor neurone disease or traumatic brain injury.</p>