Parents with Disabilities’ Household Access to Educational Devices and Internet During the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the article: "This study used 2021 Household Pulse Survey data (April to July) to determine the extent adults (parents; n = 7,238) with disabilities’ households had access to educational devices and Internet access for school-aged children, including compared to nondisabled adults (n = 64,046). Among adults who lived with school-age children, adults with disabilities were significantly less likely than nondisabled adults to have a computer and internet available for educational purposes. There were also sociodemographic differences in access among adults with disabilities themselves: adults with hearing, vision, and/or cognitive disabilities; adults with disabilities with household incomes below $100,000; households with more than one child; and households where a child attended private school were less likely to have computers/digital devices and Internet available. Findings suggest that parental disability status may be a potential criterion in expanding household access to technology and Internet, which in turn may improve outcomes for school-aged children in these households."