Self-report computer-based survey of technology use by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Shea and her team asked 180 adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities to fill out a computer survey. The survey listed everyday tech items like cell phones, microwaves, and tablets. Each person clicked yes or no to show what they owned or used.

The goal was simple: see if adults with IDD use the same gadgets as everyone else.

The adults had far fewer devices than the general public. For example, only half owned a cell phone, compared with almost every adult in the U.S. at the time.

The gap held for both assistive tech and everyday items. Under-use was the norm, not the exception.

Baker et al. (2025) asked the caregivers the same question thirteen years later. They found the same pattern: older age, lower education, and fewer state services still predicted less tech use. The bigger sample adds detail, but the core message matches Tanis et al. (2012).

Au-Yeung et al. (2015) took the next step. They built a simpler Facebook screen and showed that young adults with IDD could post and chat with almost no help once the interface was easier. This turns the survey gap into a solvable design problem.

van der Miesen et al. (2024) remind us why surveys like Shea’s are rare: 78 % of UK health studies still exclude adults with IDD. The under-use numbers may even be worse than we think, because researchers often leave these adults out.

Before you recommend an app, smart speaker, or AAC device, pause and ask: Does the person already own basic tech? If not, start with a simple loaner and one-step instructions. Shea’s data say the barrier is ownership, not ability. Your next session can fix that gap.