Social media and the internet are often seen as distractions, but for many disabled people, they are a lifeline. Disability advocate Andrew Gurza captured this perfectly when he wrote, “When a disabled person loses access to a social media platform, we lose community, connection, friendship, and income. We are told to ‘be social’ on a daily basis, but what happens when you lose your social connections due to technology, and you can’t just go outside?”
This is not just a passing thought. For many disabled people, going outside is not always possible. The physical world can be inaccessible, unpredictable, and even dangerous. Online spaces have become a way to connect, express ourselves, and participate in the world. They offer community, friendship, visibility, and even a way to earn a living.
The internet and social media have been powerful tools for me, helping me share my thoughts and connect with others. While accessibility challenges exist in the digital world, they are often different from the ones disabled people encounter in the physical world. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was able to see The Louve in Paris, The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and The Great Wall of China virtually. These are places I would love to visit in person, but due to inaccessibility, that may never be possible.
Flying is one of the biggest obstacles. For some disabled people, boarding a plane is difficult or impossible. There is currently no way for a wheelchair user to remain in their wheelchair during a flight. If someone cannot transfer from their wheelchair to an airplane seat, they cannot fly. That means entire parts of the world are out of reach.
When access to digital platforms is lost, whether through account suspensions, algorithm changes, or inaccessible updates, the impact is real. It is not just about missing content. It is about losing connection, visibility, and support. It is about being cut off from the world.
Andrew Gurza’s statement serves as a wake-up call to the tech industry that it still has a long way to go. There should be no situation in which an accessibility issue cannot be discussed with the disabled community. Online access becomes essential when offline is not an option.