The Internet and Online Communities

My most recent placement was in an inpatients physical setting at Auckland Hospital. We saw a whole range of patients but I was particularly interested in young adults who had sustained brain injuries. I guess this area caught my attention as it was my peers that had sustained life changing injuries and now that had to piece back together their life and those things that are most meaningful to them. It was challenging because I was dealing with people that so easily could have been my best friend, my classmate or even me. It put in to reality how easily someone’s life could be completely be turned upside down and then how are you meant to get back to life and those things that are so meaningful to you. The concepts of occupational disruption, transition and deprivation are all factors that have to be considered.

http://www.facebook.com/events/361269117250193/

Facebook is a social networking service that most of us will admit we are only daily. Its intended purpose is to connect people! But it is so much more than that, it literally can tell a persons life story. We share, like, comment, connect, show interest in things, follow things, poke things, join groups, follow bands, create events, follow the news, share in formation, the list just goes on! its interactive in a range of ways; we can instant message friends, write on walls, provide links, post information, invite friends, we can do so much! You will find when you follow the link I have provided, it takes you to an event that has been created by Alex. This is a Guy i went to school with. When you read the information on the page you will hear Alex’s story. When Alex first had his accident, no one really knew what had happened and how he was going and we were all really concerned. I had literally been talking to Alex half an hour before his accident. His family used his Facebook as a tool to inform all of Alex’s friends about how he was going and what was happening with him. He has set up this page since then, offering people an opportunity to interact and contribute to this awesome cause and it continues to keep us up to date with how Alex is going.

http://www.braintrust.org/

The Healing Exchange (T.H.E) BRAIN TRUST has built up a global online community for people whose lives have been affected by brain tumors, injuries and related issues. When you go onto the website it gives you a good run down about what they are about and the service they are providing.  They have set up email support groups that are operating globally 24hrs a day; they currently have over 2000 subscribers made up of patients, parents, carers, friends, medical workers and many others. This online community provides a service were people could ask questions, make connections, get answers and discuss topics. People have the opportunity to contribute to the cause through donations. On the site, they have a tab that goes in to how you can donate and contribute to helping these people!

http://stupidcancer.com/

This website is not related to brain injuries in particular but it’s an online community for young adults who have or have had cancer. It’s one of the largest support communities for those that fall under this population. The website is great so have a look around and read all about the awesome things these guys are doing. The site is interactive in that it speaks directly to whoever is reading it, it’s as if someone is there talking to you face to face! It has a whole lot of links that you simply click on and it will direct you to where you will find what you’re looking for. This place pretty much has everything you could need. People can contribute financially to this organisation and there is a link provided for this on the site.

For each of these sites, it seems individuals have recognised a need, and saw an opportunity to fill that need. Through their own experiences or through the voice of others they have realised that there are certain needs that aren’t being meet for our young adults that are facing or have faced life-threatening experiences yet are so often over looked. These online communities provide a service were people can interact with each other and exchange information, support or simply make connections. They are also a place where the rest of the public can hear young adults share their traumatic experiences and in return provide financial support or donate to organisations. 

Occupational disruption refers to the temporary transient disruption resulting from factors that are internal or individual such as ones illness. (Townsend, E.A. & Wilcock, H.J. (2007). Enabling occupation II: Advancing an occupational therapy vision for health, well-being, & justice through occupation. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.)

These sites are directed toward young adults who have experienced illness or injury that has had significant impact on their life. These websites recognise the disruption that young adults experience and provide support or a voice for this population. These websites are connecting young adults and providing a service that helps support people and offers advice or directs them to where they can find what they need in order to fulfil occupations that are meaningful to them.

Occupational transition is certainly something that these communities can relate to as many of them have had to make life changing adjustments due to their illness or injury. Many of them will talk about where they have come from compared to where they are now, these sites provide a place for these young adults to share similar experiences and support each other as they transition to perhaps a very different life style that they never could have anticipated.

As with anything online, these online communities have ethical issues that need to be considered. How reliable is the content that is being provided, copyrights, were is the money really going and how can they guarantee this. In most cases anyone can post and make comments on the pages so is there a system in place to monitor these things and who deciphers what is appropriate or not? Some content posted on these sites could be offensive to others.

Each of these sites are very beneficial to those within the population that they are directed at but also for the public. They have the ability to connect individuals who share similar challenges and interests. These online communities break down geographical barriers and make it possible to interact with people all over the globe.