This month, Community Tech Network wanted to celebrate the impact that learning digital skills has on people’s lives. As we share the stories of some of our learners, we hope you feel inspired to continue advocating for digital inclusion within your own communities.
Julieta’s Story
When Julieta began learning to use technology with CTN, she was undergoing chemotherapy and often had numb hands, making it difficult for her to press the buttons on her touchscreen and access certain features.
Her instructor, Hira, says “I helped her set up the accessibility button and adjust the brightness of the display, which allowed her to navigate the iPad with ease, bringing her immense joy. These small gestures brought her genuine happiness and made our sessions even more meaningful.”
Joy’s Story
Joy, who lives alone in a senior living facility, found that technology “opens up [her] world,” by combating loneliness and allowing her to access information with the click of a button.
She says, “To be able to tap into anything and get the information right away, through Google especially, is amazing. I video call and email my sister-in-law in Upstate New York, who’s 85 now. It’s very important to stay connected and be able to see each other while we talk. It’s your next best thing to being there!”
M.F. Wong’s Story
For M.F. Wong, an immigrant from Hong Kong, the internet brings convenience. Rather than walking to a pharmacy to refill her prescriptions, she does it online. Instead of going to local supermarkets to try to find the Chinese newspaper, Wong can access it virtually. When she needs to go to the doctor, she schedules a telehealth appointment.
Best of all, FaceTime and email allow her to keep in touch with loved ones overseas.
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