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 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.