ABSTRACT Online technologies are viewed as a potential equalizer of opportunities for marginalized groups because they may help reduce inequality and oppression through their educational, social and professional capabilities. While many forms of political participation are increasingly mediatized by online technologies, very few studies have examined the extent to which citizens with disabilities use them to engage in democracy. This article addresses this challenge by examining how internet access for people with disabilities compares to others, whether people with disabilities are equally or more likely to use the internet to participate in politics, and the digital skills of users with disabilities. It draws on a phone survey conducted among a representative sample of the Canadian population. We find that Canadians with disabilities are less likely to access online technologies and that disabled users with low digital skills face additional barriers. However, disabled users whose knowledge allows them to make the most of the Internet are as likely – or even more likely – as non-disabled users to participate online in politics.

中文翻译：

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在线技术和数字技能在残疾人政治参与中的作用

摘要在线技术被视为边缘化群体机会的潜在均衡器，因为它们可以通过其教育，社交和专业能力帮助减少不平等和压迫。尽管许多形式的政治参与已越来越多地通过在线技术实现中介，但很少有研究检查残疾人在多大程度上利用其参与民主。本文通过研究残疾人的互联网访问与其他人的比较，残疾人是否同等或更多地使用互联网参与政治活动以及残疾人的数字技能来应对这一挑战。它采用了对加拿大人口代表性样本进行的电话调查。我们发现，加拿大的残疾人不太可能使用在线技术，数字技能低下的残疾人用户面临更多的障碍。但是，其知识可以使他们充分利用互联网的残障用户与非残障用户在线参与政治活动的可能性相同，甚至更高。