Disability and Digital Inequality: Internet Use Among People with Disabilities in the U.S.

• In Event: Governance, Digital Inequality, Service Accessibility, and Lived Experience

Abstract

This paper examines persistent digital inequalities in internet use among people with disabilities in the United States, using pooled cross-sectional data from the Computer and Internet Use Supplement of the Current Population Survey (CPS) spanning 2015 to 2023. Despite national efforts to close the digital divide, individuals with disabilities remain significantly less likely to use the internet compared to their non-disabled counterparts, raising equity concerns in an increasingly digital society.

The study employs logistic regression models with time fixed effects to assess how internet use has evolved over time for individuals with different types of disabilities. Results show that, even after adjusting for age, race, income, education, employment, and household size, people with disabilities consistently have lower odds of internet use. However, interaction effects reveal notable progress over time, particularly since 2021 for individuals with ambulatory, cognitive, and vision-related disabilities, suggesting improvements in digital inclusion efforts. Nevertheless, people with multiple disabilities and those with independent living or self-care limitations continue to experience disproportionately low internet use.

These findings underscore the need for targeted policy interventions that prioritize digital accessibility, broadband affordability, and assistive technologies for people with disabilities. The study contributes new insights to the disability policy literature and informs federal and state efforts to ensure that digital equity frameworks are inclusive of this diverse and often-overlooked population. 

Author

• Clement Mensah Damoah, Arizona State University
  Presenting Author