Digital Lifeline

Using the internet is important for a lot of reasons such as making friends, contact with other people, mental health benefits, independence, entertainment, information, and shopping. During the Covid-19 pandemic it was especially important because the social distancing restrictions that were in place meant that the internet was a good way to stay connected. However, for many people with learning (intellectual) disabilities, using the internet can be difficult. In the pandemic, the Government paid for 5,500 digital devices (tablets) to be sent to people with learning disabilities, along with some support with how to use the internet. This was called the Digital Lifeline Fund. The digital inclusion charity The Good Things Foundation were in charge of Digital Lifeline and worked with other organisations to get the tablets to people. As well as Digital Lifeline, other organisations supporting people with learning disabilities also sent digital equipment to people, mainly to support social connections.

This project aims to find out what difference the new digital devices made to the lives of people with learning disabilities who received them and what kind of support was the best.

At the end of the project, we will know more about the best ways to support people with learning disabilities to use the internet and, importantly, to continue to learn new digital skills. Together with our advisory groups, we will decide on some recommendations on how digital inclusion work can be better.

Project team

Sue Caton, Chris Hatton, Adele Swingewood, Katie Heard (from The Good Things Foundation), Rod Landman (from the Association for Real Change).

Collaborators

SeeAbility and Learning Disability England Project website: https://digitallifeline.org/