Digital safety and well-being of adult learners with disabilities
Project name: Digital safety and well-being of adult learners with disabilities
Project acronym: DigWell4PWDs
Funding scheme: Erasmus+ Program – Adult education
Partner countries: Germany – Estonia – Serbia – Italy – Croatia
Project duration: December 2025 – October 2027
Project budget: 250.000 €
Learning Library is part of the consortium implementing the project.
Digital technologies expand the boundaries of information available to people and enhance human productivity, but can also imply risks for people’s well-being, ranging from job losses and cyber-bullying to breaches to online security and privacy. The development of the information society is also perceived as an opportunity for a higher inclusion of persons with disabilities in social activities, but it can be another source of frustration and exclusion. Various studies in recent years have demonstrated that persons with disability experience a significant digital divide.
This disability digital divide is not only an effect of the impairments occurring in people with disabilities, but frequently coexists with limitations to their social inclusion and their economic deprivation. Living with disability leads to undesirable consequences, such as lower socioeconomic status, which in turn, restricts the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). Apart from the fact that disability itself, or related socioeconomic status, may result in an inability to use, or limit access to the Internet, the manner in which online services are designed may play a significant role. Frequently, the interfaces of online services are designed for young users and as a result, adults with various forms of disability can experience difficulties in using them.
People with disabilities often rely on assistive technologies like screen readers, alternative input devices, voice recognition software, or specialised hardware to navigate digital platforms. However, according to our professional work with this target group in our countries, most of them aren’t aware of the risks exposed when using digital devices, nor about privacy. Therefore, through our project we are not only focusing on consuming content but also on creating and sharing it through various mediums and working directly on development of digital skills of adults with disabilities. In addition to teaching digital skills, our project is also addressing cybersecurity and online safety considerations specific to such people. We are providing them with training and support for using assistive technologies effectively, while also educating them about potential risks, privacy settings, and safe online practices.
Specific objectives of the project are:
- To develop new and further improve existing competencies of educators working with adults with disabilities, in the topics of digital wellbeing, digital literacy and online safety; through the development, piloting and dissemination of a comprehensive handbook.
- To empower adults with disabilities for ensuring their digital wellbeing and online safety; through development of an educational toolkit.
- To create online learning opportunities for enhancing digital wellbeing, digital literacy, and digital skills of both educators working with adults with disabilities and adults with disabilities themselves; through an inclusive, accessible and comprehensive online platform and 2 online learning courses.
