Prospects and barriers to computer and internet access by older blind and visually impaired people in Ghana.

With a growing demand for digital devices and internet access, being digitally excluded also means being socially excluded. Thus, all people, including those with disabilities (PwD), must have access to digital technology. Though there have been several studies to examine the barriers to digital inc...

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Published in:British Journal of Visual Impairment Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 157 - 172
Main Authors: Quainoo, Michael Asante, Dikmen, Ergin Şafak
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Sage Publications Inc. Jan2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jan2026
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      pub: Sage Publications Inc.
      place: Thousand Oaks, California
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        atl: Prospects and barriers to computer and internet access by older blind and visually impaired people in Ghana.
      aug:
        au:
          Quainoo, Michael Asante
          Dikmen, Ergin Şafak
        affil: Ankara University, Turkey
      sug:
        subj:
          Internet Access Evaluation
          Attitude to Disability Evaluation
          Persons with Visual Disabilities In Old Age
          Ghana
          Human
          Aged
          Semi-Structured Interview
          Thematic Analysis
          Diffusion of Innovation
          Conceptual Framework
          Qualitative Studies
          Exploratory Research
          Purposive Sample
          Snowball Sample
          Audiorecording
          Questionnaires
          Attitude to Disability
          Data Analysis Software
          Male
          Female
          Adult
          Middle Age
          Assistive Technology Devices Utilization
          Access to Information
          Internet Connections
          Internet Economics
          Developing Countries
          Aged: 65+ years
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: With a growing demand for digital devices and internet access, being digitally excluded also means being socially excluded. Thus, all people, including those with disabilities (PwD), must have access to digital technology. Though there have been several studies to examine the barriers to digital inclusion among PwD, such studies have mostly emanated from developed countries. The situation in Africa, particularly Ghana, has been rarely explored. A significant gap in the literature is in the case of older blind and visually impaired (BVI) people. Using in-depth interviews and a thematic analysis of the experiences of 12 older BVI people in Ghana, this study explored the factors that enable older BVI people in Ghana to access the computer and internet and how they benefit from accessing these platforms. Findings revealed that though older BVI people face challenges with the cost of purchasing devices and assistive technologies as well as accessing certain web pages, access to the computer and internet helps older BVI people perform certain daily tasks with ease and alleviates the struggles they face as a result of their disability.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
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        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
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    language: English
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