Equity & Inclusion
Thoughts and examples on providing digital equity and inclusion in this online world
Equity and inclusion! It is so important and even vital for us in our day to day lives. That being said, it is important to remember that not everyone is able to experience digital equity and inclusion. If students don’t have access to reliable broadband connection, how are they supposed to be able to do a research project? If they don’t have access to tablets, how are they supposed to use even unreliable internet? Digital equity and digital inclusion are two terms that are essential for us to be aware of when it comes to talking about technology and ethics. Digital equity, as defined by the NDIA essentially refers to the idea that everybody is able to have the “information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy.” Digital inclusion refers to the idea that everybody has the tools to have “access to and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs).” (National Digital Inclusion Alliance, 2021) Both of these terms are important when considering the disadvantages that inevitably come with living in a digital world where (unfortunately) digital equity and inclusion aren’t guaranteed.
To go back to the questions that I proposed at the beginning, what are we as digital citizens supposed to do when it comes to the challenges of students’ learning without access to the technology needed to learn? Well, COVID-19 thrusts digital equity and inclusion to the forefront as students, teachers, and school districts have all had to figure out learning strategies as we continue to live in this season that is the Covid-19 pandemic. Digital inclusion and equity concerns are problems for people all over the world. For the purposes of this article, however, I want to highlight examples of both problems and solutions that are happening in the United States.
In Minnesota, some school districts have the capacity and funds to provide each student and staff personnel with their own devices. This is great for all the students who have reliable internet connections and the means to access wifi. But for those who don’t have the means? There are still many questions out there regarding the best ways to address those very issues. The city of Minneapolis has put together a great Digital Inclusion page that is full of resources for people living in the Twin Cities area. But what about larger, denser cities with even more pressing underlying issues like New York City? Covid-19 has provided us all with a great opportunity to reexamine our current education system and accessibility problems.
In a recent interview done by a local news station in New York City, State Senator Kevin Parker expressed his concerns regarding digital inclusion, equity, and accessibility. He focused on the impacts that Covid-19 has had on students and the many difficulties of online learning, but one thing that he also brought up was how seniors are having a hard time signing up for vaccines because many of them have no access to the internet where the signing up process takes place. He applauded companies like Spectrum and Verizon for providing free resources to senior buildings, domestic violence houses, and areas of low-income families and encouraged lawmakers, politicians and other people in power to address and advocate for digital inclusion.
In this time of Covid-19, being aware of public health notifications and having basic access to the internet in order to communicate with others (whether it’s for work or school) is so important. I can’t stress enough how crucial it is for all of us, no matter where we live, to take a closer look at how we can better provide digital inclusion and equity in our own communities. As digital citizens, we have a responsibility to advocate for these basic ideas in order to make the online world as inclusive as possible.
