SCIE Conference 14th June 2007

‘Following the Road Ahead’Multimedia for social care and transition

Andy Minnion & Pat StaplesThe Rix Centre

The Rix Centre

• Established (2004) to enhance the lives of people with learning disabilities through the research and development of multimedia

• Named in honour of Lord Rix

The Rix CentreOur approach

• Research and Development• Software tools• Teaching and Learning• ‘Best Practice’ developed in East London

then shared across the UK

Multimedia for the learning disability community

• Accessible information

• E Learning

• Multimedia advocacy

Developed with the learning disability community

The Rix CentreOur R&D themes

People with learning disabilities

• 1.5 million plus people in the UK • Face challenges with organising thoughts,

memory, communication• Require extra support for learning,

employment and often daily routines

Communication

• objects• film and video• photos• symbol • drawings• gesture• spoken word• written word

Multimedia

• communication• advocacy• information

• community • fun • learning

• Content management systems • Rich media • Blogging• User-generated content• Social networking

‘Web 2.0’ for inclusion?

‘Growing Up’

• SCIE/Rix Centre collaboration

• Third phase of ‘The Road Ahead’

• ‘Web 2.0’ use of rich media, user-generated content, online social support networks

Tower Project – ‘satellite easy-build website’

Personal stories, advice and experience. Service-user knowledge for advocacy, peer learning and support.

Web 2.0 for inclusive social care?

• Inclusive practice of ‘Multimedia Advocacy’• Social and fun!• Sharing experience and insight• Peer learning and mentoring• New support networks• Visibility of people with learning disabilities

New solutions for social care?

• Multimedia for accessibility, advocacy and social inclusion

• Built on core values– Person-centred process

– Total communication

– Self-advocacy

– Consent and security

Innovation for Learning Disabilitywww.rixcentre.org