THE USING OF TECHNOLOGY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES: POSSIBILITIES FOR HANDICAP PEOPLE

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus has caused the social isolation of everyone, including people with disabilities. The objective of this article is to describe the possibilities of using information and communication technology - ICTs, to help maintain the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities, as well as to present the reactions caused by the interactions and the perception of users at this specific moment. This is qualitative research that had as its target audience the users of the Day Center, of a non-governmental institution in the interior of Minas Gerais, which supported all the stages of this work. Two people with intellectual disabilities, aged 33 and 54, participated in the research; two instruments were used, questionnaires and social networks (WhatsApp and Facebook).   The results point out that it is possible to help maintain the quality of life of people with disabilities in times of social isolation, using ICTs to perform physical activities guided by a teacher, as well as in the socio-emotional aspects favoring positive emotions, and we consider that homesickness was mitigated, but not completely overcome, which is understandable. We believe that the use of ICTs is irreversible and that we have to add it to our actions, stimulating people with disabilities to use it for their own benefit.

Received on: 2022/08/02

Reformulated on: 2022/09/10

Accepted: 2022/10/07