Abstract:
This article presents how young adults with intellectual disability (ID) from Sri Lanka, who had not previously used
the Internet, interacted with Google search while enhancing their web search abilities throughout three web search
workshops. Considering the little attention paid on the learning needs of people with ID in the current offering web
search learning tools, we iteratively developed a suite of learning tools to support our participants when they need
help in the web search workshops. We employed an iterative participatory approach, with observations and semistructured
interviews, to reflect on how to design eLearning tools that enhance the participants’ interactions with websearch.
The qualitative thematic analysis resulted in five distinct themes on strategies to support, build on and develop
the abilities of a young adults with intellectual disabilities as they engage with Google search in their native language:
application of existing abilities, basic skills to match with learning needs, conceptual understanding, animations to
facilitate visual memory, and promoting active engagement. These themes will be a starting point for understanding
participants’ learning needs and behavior on web search, which would be important for future research on learning
support as well as on software design.
