Effect of digital divide on people with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minhae Cho, Kyung Mee Kim
PMID 34518115WHAT IT FOUND
During the pandemic, people with disabilities used digital services less than those without, despite similar awareness of health information.
They reported less increase in internet use and found services like delivery and streaming less useful, pointing to barriers in accessibility and skills rather than just access.
Key findings
01People with disabilities were less likely to report increased internet usage via computers and mobile devices during the pandemic compared to people without disabilities.
02While people with disabilities were more aware of COVID-19 information services, their actual usage and perceived usefulness of these services were significantly lower than those of people without disabilities.
03The largest gap in perceived usefulness was for delivery services, followed by subscription services, where people with disabilities reported lower utility scores.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study relied on self-reported changes in usage during the pandemic without baseline pre-pandemic data, so it is unclear if PWOD started with lower usage rates and simply gained more. The survey did not measure specific online accommodations (e.g., screen reader compatibility, sign language support), so it cannot determine if lower usage was due to lack of accessibility features. The analysis was bivariate, meaning it did not control for socioeconomic factors like age, education, or income, which are known determinants of digital divide. Results are limited to South Korean adults aged 18-69 and may not generalize to other countries or age groups.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that higher awareness of digital services among people with disabilities translates to equal access or benefit. The data shows that while they knew about COVID-19 information services, they used them less and found them less useful, suggesting barriers beyond simple knowledge, such as accessibility or usability issues.