New report highlights digital barriers for disabled volunteers

Creating an inclusive society means ensuring that people of all backgrounds and abilities can engage in all aspects of life.

As life becomes more reliant on technology, having internet access and digital skills is increasingly important. Unfortunately, many disabled adults are digitally excluded, limiting their ability to engage in paid and voluntary work.

But by removing barriers and enhancing accessibility, we can foster environments where everyone feels welcome and empowered to contribute.

The Bridging the Digital Divide: Challenges and Opportunities for Disabled Adults in Volunteering report, supported by the HEAR Equality and Human Rights Network, uses data from NCVO's Time Well Spent survey to explore these issues. It shares recommendations for both government and the voluntary sector, which we summarise below.

• Higher interest in online volunteering: Disabled adults show more interest in online volunteering, as these roles offer more flexibility and accessibility. However, there are still barriers. For example, 1.4 million disabled people are not using the internet.
• Internet access boosts volunteering: For disabled adults, regular internet access increases the likelihood of volunteering, both online and in-person. More frequent internet users tend to volunteer more hours, though daily or weekly users often volunteer fewer hours. This is the case regardless of someone’s socioeconomic background.
• Assumptions about digital skills: Many organisations assume volunteers have the digital skills they need. This can leave some disabled people without the support or training they require.
• Importance of personal support: Assistive technology works best with informal support networks. Ongoing, one-to-one help is essential, as many disabled volunteers hesitate to ask for help when initial support is lacking.
• Employment helps overcome digital barriers: The report finds that paid work, rather than volunteering, often gives disabled people the skills, confidence, and resources to overcome digital barriers. There is also frustration that the Access to Work scheme, which supports disabled people in paid jobs, does not cover volunteering.

The report calls for inclusive digital environments that support disabled people in volunteering. It provides guidelines to help organisations reduce digital barriers at each stage of the volunteering process.

Here are some helpful suggestions from the report for organisations engaging disabled adults in volunteering who may be unsure about providing digital support and resources. These guidelines are relevant for disabled adults considering or currently volunteering, as well as for informal and formal supporters advocating for their inclusion.

While the primary focus is on voluntary work, the insights gained also shed light on the digital inclusion challenges disabled adults face in paid employment, as many of the barriers overlap.

Prepare for recruitment

• Use a range of communication channels.
• Ensure recruitment platforms and resources are accessible.
• Promote inclusivity in digital communications.
• Clearly define role responsibilities and accommodations.
• Publish an accessibility statement.

Onboarding

• Focus on a person-centered approach.
• Integrate assistive technologies into digital infrastructure.
• Consider intersectionality factors.
• Combine assistive technologies with other support options.

Development and training

• Offer tailored digital skills training and feedback opportunities.
• Provide training on assistive technologies for all volunteers.
• Ensure ongoing development with periodic reviews.

Retention and exit

• Use diverse communication strategies.
• Provide online opportunities for networking and community building.
• Conduct exit interviews to focus on digital inclusion.

This report is an important step towards a future where disabled adults can fully participate in both online and offline volunteering. As the voluntary sector continues to embrace digital tools, it is crucial that no one is left behind.

To implement the recommendations from this report, we encourage you to explore our help and guidance on involving volunteers. Here, you’ll find valuable resources to support your efforts in creating an inclusive volunteering environment.