Digital Inclusion for Neurodiverse and Vulnerable Communities in the Global South: A Policy Analysis Study.
Introduction: Digital inclusion, understood as a multidimensional construct extending beyond basic access to encompass skills, support, and meaningful participation, remains inadequately conceptualized in national policy frameworks, particularly for neurodiverse populations in Global South states su...
| Publicado en: | Inquiry (00469580) Vol. 63; pp. 1 - 21 |
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| Autores principales: | , , , , , |
| Formato: | Artículo |
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Sage Publications Inc.
4/24/2026
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=193250514&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 193250514 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00469580 INQ jtl: Inquiry (00469580) issn: 00469580 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: 4/24/2026 vid: 63 pid: 344 pub: Sage Publications Inc. artinfo: ui: 193250514 10.1177/00469580261443129 ppf: 1 ppct: 20 formats: tig: atl: Digital Inclusion for Neurodiverse and Vulnerable Communities in the Global South: A Policy Analysis Study. aug: au: Almakrob, Ahmed Yahya Alduais, Ahmed Mhone, Alex Be, Borey Yasmeen, Tahira Alanazi, Tariq affil: Department of English Language and Literature, College of Sciences and Humanities, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway Department of Geography and Social Studies, Faculty of Education, Catholic University of Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi Cooperation Committee for Cambodi, Phnom Penh, Cambodia School of Education, Minhaj University Lahore, Pakistan su: Health services accessibility Diversity & inclusion policies Government policy Qualitative research Child psychopathology Research funding Digital divide Neurodiversity At-risk people Health policy Psychological well-being Judgment sampling Intellectual disabilities Thematic analysis Social skills Conceptual structures Social support Minorities Social participation Access to information People with disabilities Saudi Arabia sug: subj: Saudi Arabia Health services accessibility Diversity & inclusion policies Government policy Qualitative research Child psychopathology Research funding Digital divide Neurodiversity At-risk people Health policy Psychological well-being Judgment sampling Intellectual disabilities Thematic analysis Social skills Conceptual structures Social support Minorities Social participation Access to information People with disabilities keyword: digital inclusion framework analysis good health and well-being neurodiverse populations neurodiversity quality education reduced inequalities ab: Introduction: Digital inclusion, understood as a multidimensional construct extending beyond basic access to encompass skills, support, and meaningful participation, remains inadequately conceptualized in national policy frameworks, particularly for neurodiverse populations in Global South states such as Saudi Arabia. Methods: A qualitative policy analysis was conducted using Framework Analysis, examining 9 policy and grey documents from Saudi Arabian governmental bodies, including accessibility policies, disability legislation, digital government guidelines, and strategic frameworks. Documents were analyzed through systematic familiarization, thematic framework development, indexing, charting, and interpretation stages. The analysis was aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4, and 10. Results: Ten thematic areas were identified. Digital inclusion efforts rely primarily on international accessibility benchmarks and technical compliance standards, with underlying assumptions frequently conflating disability with digital illiteracy. While the 2019 Disability Law and Vision 2030 represent significant policy advancements, inconsistencies persist in support definitions and implementation across sectors. Reported outcomes include improved health service delivery—such as sign language interpretation services reaching over 35 000 individuals—and educational platform success, notably the Madrasati platform recognized globally during COVID-19. Persistent barriers include physical inaccessibility, digital literacy deficits, sensory and cognitive constraints, and deficit-oriented policy language. Conclusion: Achieving meaningful digital inclusion requires shifting from technical conformity to user-centered design, establishing consistent vulnerability definitions, investing in capacity-building, and implementing SDG-aligned monitoring systems to track progress and support adaptive policy refinement for vulnerable populations. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Article src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y dt: @attributes: year: 2026 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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