Digital Equity, Digital Inclusion and Digital Literacy
Digital Equity
Digital Equity* is a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy and economy. Digital Equity is necessary for civic and cultural participation, employment, lifelong learning, and access to essential services.
*(National Digital Inclusion Alliance, nd).
Digital Inclusion
Digital Inclusion* refers to the activities necessary to ensure that all individuals and communities, including the most disadvantaged, have access to and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). There are five crucial elements necessary for digital inclusion:
- Affordable, robust broadband internet service;
- Internet-enabled devices that meet the needs of the user;
- Access to digital literacies training;
- Quality technical support; and
- Applications and online content designed to enable and encourage self-sufficiency, participation, and collaboration
*(National Digital Inclusion Alliance, nd).
Digital Inclusion Ecosystem
A Digital Inclusion Ecosystem* is a combination of programs and policies that meet a geographic community’s unique and diverse needs. Coordinating entities work together in an ecosystem to address all aspects of the digital divide, including affordable broadband, devices, and skills.
Indicators of a strong Digital Inclusion Ecosystem:
- Existence of programs and policies addressing all aspects of the digital divide
- Affordable and subsidized broadband service options that meet the community’s needs
- Affordable and subsidized device ownership programs that meet the community’s needs
- Multilingual digital literacy and digital skill trainings that meet the community’s needs
- Hardware and software technical support
- Digital navigation services to guide residents to the above services
- Collaboration: Entities providing local digital inclusion services, policymakers, advocates, social service providers and community leaders co-create solutions in partnership with the community.
*(National Digital Inclusion Alliance, nd).
DIGITAL INCLUSION RESOURCES
LOCAL PUBLIC COMPUTERS
ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AND RESOURCES
Digital Literacy
In the 21st century, all literacy is digital literacy. The concept of Digital Literacy has a wide variety of descriptions that recognize and encourage the evolving nature of both the topic and the digital landscape.
“The American Library Association (ALA) defines Digital Literacy as "the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.” (ALA, 2017)
Digital Literacy, a significant social justice issue of our time, has been “linked to social determinants of health which include a safe neighborhood and physical environment, economic sustainability, access to the healthcare system, connections to a community through social contexts, healthy food, and education resources.” (Sieck, 2021)
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