Opportunity or risk? Mobile phones and the social inclusion gap among people with visual impairments

Abstract

Mobile phones have been regarded as an enabler that reduces barriers in a disabling environment. Therefore, disability research has focused on the social inclusion consequences of this technology. Adopting the uses and gratifications approach, this study examines the correlation between access to mobile phones and the social participation and social relationships of people with visual impairment. This study conducts a survey and demonstrates that mobile phones facilitate the social inclusion of people with visual impairment, while creating a social inclusion gap between people with different degrees of visual impairment and socioeconomic status. Partially sighted people have more possibilities to explore the physical world, while blind people with lower socioeconomic status are restricted to the digital space. Therefore, technology could create a new form of digital exclusion and widen the social inclusion gap among people with visual impairment.

Points of interest

• Mobile phones have been regarded as an enabler that reduces barriers in a disabling environment.

• This study found that mobile phones can provide opportunities for people with visual impairment, while posing potential risks.

• The use of and gratification associated with mobile phones affect the social inclusion outcomes of people with visual impairment. However, they may also create social inclusion gaps between people with different degrees of visual impairment and socioeconomic status.

• Partially sighted people have more possibilities to explore the physical world, while blind people with lower socioeconomic status may be restricted to the digital space created by technology.

• Technology carries some risks of creating a new form of digital exclusion and widening the social inclusion gap among people with visual impairment.

Keywords:

• MAIN model
• uses and gratifications
• social participation
• social relationships
• social inclusion gap

Disclosure statement

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by the National Social Science Fund of China (No. 19CXW037) and Fund of Chongqing Social science (No. cstc2019jcyjbshX0086)