While the world becomes increasingly reliant on technology for day-to-day living, the digital divide between those who have access to digital resources and those who do not continues to grow for the disability community. Easterseals is on a mission to bridge that divide while highlighting the importance of digital equity, ensuring that all individuals and communities have the technology needed for full participation in our society.
An Easterseals Life Skills Coach and participant using an iPad device.
Digital Inclusion Week (DIW), which starts October 7, aims to celebrate and advance the removal of barriers to the online world and increase access to home internet, personal devices, and local technology training and support programs. This year’s DIW theme is “Stronger Together: Mobilizing Toward Sustainability,” which speaks to the power of collaboration in ensuring the longevity of digital inclusion.
We are excited to highlight some of the ways Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) is working toward closing this digital divide for people with disabilities.
“Technology has increasingly become a part of everyone’s day-to-day lives, but some communities have not been given the same opportunities as others,” said Reese Peterson, Easterseals Southern California’s Tech Lending Library Director. “The pandemic highlighted the fact that the disability community was not being given an equal opportunity to access and utilize tech. With the Technology Lending Library, we can bridge that divide and positively impact digital equity and inclusion for the community.”
At a Glance: How Easterseals is Addressing the Digital Divide
Easterseals Southern California is proud to be involved in several projects that advance digital equity among the disability community and beyond, in collaboration with five Regional Centers: Eastern Los Angeles, Frank D. Lanterman, San Gabriel/Pomona, Harbor, North Los Angeles County.
To date, we’ve served 560+ individuals through these programs and currently have 430+ individuals enrolled in the Tech Lending Library program.
Here’s a breakdown of the devices and equipment we’ve distributed to Easterseals participants and their families through programs like our Tech Lending Library:
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345 iPads
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145+ Laptops
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75+ JayPads (reflects Adult Day Services participants as well as Tech Lending Library participants)
Adaptive Equipment Provided:
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Wheelchair arm iPad clamp mounts
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Dragon voice to function software
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Specialty iPad cases (cases include full body straps, hand straps, and easy-grab points)
We also provide trainings to individuals, ranging from basic navigation and utilization of their devices, to setting up emails for communication, as well as collaborating with clinicians to provide speech support via Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) applications.
Additional Digital Equity Offerings and Programs
The Technology Lending Library loans iPads, Dell and Surface Go Laptops, and JayPad tablets with a Zoom autojoin feature for people receiving services at participating Regional Centers (Eastern Los Angeles, Frank D. Lanterman, San Gabriel/Pomona, Harbor, North Los Angeles County). These devices are loaned on a short- and long-term basis, depending on the individual’s needs. Along with devices loaned, we offer end-to-end IT support, as well as one-on-one in-person or remote trainings.
Virtual Community
The Virtual Community is a digital hub where individuals connect with their peers online through live events and explore a vast array of on-demand resources that can be accessed 24/7. In addition to our ongoing activities, we offer tech support through specialized workshops or one-on-one trainings to ensure an independent and individualized experience for each participant. The Virtual Community is currently supporting 300 individuals a month.
Adult Day Services’ participant Jocelyn connects with her mom, Georgia on the JayPad – an Android tablet designed with specialized software tailored for individuals with disabilities to do things like automatically join meetings.
JayPad Tablet Training
As part of the Technology Lending Library Program, ESSC provides JayPad training to people with disabilities who are referred by one of five participating Regional Centers.
Hear Our Voices
Hear Our Voices is a multi-pronged program supporting ESSC’s participants of all ages impacted by communication delays or disorders resulting in complex communication needs.
We provide short- and long-term access to iPads with advanced communication applications for those who are in need. Interested participants can email vop@essc.org.
Free Wi-Fi
Easterseals partners with the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office Angeleno Connectivity Trust (ACT) Program to provide free Wi-Fi hotspot internet devices to those receiving Regional Center services who are struggling to access online classes and support services.
So far, we have provided 60+ individuals with free Wi-Fi hotspots.
If you are interested in receiving a free Wi-Fi hotspot, please reach out to Director of the Technology Lending Library Reese Peterson at reese.peterson@essc.org or call (714)909-6135.
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Easterseals Southern California is proud to support Digital Inclusion Week as we continue to find ways to ensure people with disabilities have access to technology so they can live independently in their communities. Visit the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) website to learn more about Digital Inclusion Week and how to get involved.
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