From Detection to Protection: Online Risks, Privacy and Security in the Lives of Disabilities

This paper emphasises the need to address online
risks, privacy and security in the everyday digital lives
of individuals with intellectual disabilities. It proposes
a study that will explore their online experiences
alongside parental concerns, expectations and
practices, as well as the forms of support teachers
provide to both parents and students. The project will
adopt a mixed-methods design, bringing together
focus groups with young people with intellectual
disabilities, online surveys with parents and semistructured interviews with teachers. By integrating
these perspectives, the paper aims to build an evidence
base that can inform future research and guide the
development of more context-sensitive policies,
educational practices and curricula. Ultimately, the
study seeks to contribute to safer and more inclusive
online environments for young people with intellectual
disabilities, without overlooking their agency and
participation in digital spaces. It also highlights
priority areas and questions for subsequent empirical
and comparative investigations in education.