New SSCR project | Enhancing Transparency, Explainability, and Consent in Technology for Adults with a Learning Disability (TEC-LD)
A new research project has been commissioned to better understand how everyday technology can be safely used to support adults with learning disabilities. Led by Dr. Liz Croot and Dr. Alice Dunning from the University of Sheffield, this study will focus on popular non-specialist technologies like social media, smart home devices (e.g., Amazon’s Ring doorbell and Google’s Nest Audio), and generative AI (e.g., OpenAI’s ChatGPT).
These technologies are increasingly being used in social care because they are easily accessible and familiar to many people. However, there are concerns about the risks involved, such as threats to privacy, dignity, and independence. The research aims to better understand these risks and benefits and work with adults with learning disabilities, their families, caregivers, and social care providers to develop resources that will help people make informed decisions about using this technology.
The aims are the research are:
- To find out what everyday technologies are currently being used in social care for tasks typically handled by humans.
- To understand the risks and benefits associated with these technologies.
- To collaborate with people who will use these technologies, including adults with learning disabilities, their families, caregivers, and social care providers, to create helpful resources that explain the risks and benefits.
The research team will work closely with “Knowledge-Users,” including adults with learning disabilities, family members, and social care providers. The team will gather information on the types of technologies being used by conducting surveys and reviewing existing research. Then, they will hold workshops with each group of Knowledge-Users to understand the risks and benefits of using these technologies for social care tasks.
The findings will be used to develop practical resources like a video, webpage, or booklet to help individuals make better choices about using technology safely. The project will conclude with a final workshop where all groups will come together to share the resources.
The research is set to begin in July 2025.
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Join the TEC-LD Knowledge-User Network – help shape the use of digital technology in social care
Are you a support provider with a special interest in the use of technology in social care? Would you like to be part of a national research project shaping how mainstream (non-specialist) technology can be used in social care for adults with a learning disability?
The TEC-LD project (Technology-Enabled Care for people with Learning Disabilities), funded by NIHR and led by the University of Sheffield, is inviting support providers to join a Knowledge-User Network. This network will meet six times over the course of the two-year project to offer insight, advice, and practical experience that will directly shape how the research is done and, ultimately, help co-design tools that support informed decisions about the use of this technology.
The meetings will be held online and last one and half hours. The first meetings will be held:
- 18th September 2025 1-2.30pm
- 4th February 2026 10-11.30am
If you are interested in joining the Knowledge-User Network or would like an informal conversation about the opportunity, please contact Dr Alice Dunning, TEC-LD Co-Lead: a.dunning@sheffield.ac.uk
