Cell phone use by adults with intellectual disabilities.
Adults with ID rarely had cell phones in 2007 because of cost and complexity, but newer data show rapid tech uptake once barriers fall.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Nelson et al. (2007) asked adults with intellectual disability about cell phones. They used a simple survey. The goal was to see who owns a phone and why some do not.
The team wanted numbers where none existed. Before this, no one knew how many adults with ID had mobiles.
What they found
Most adults with ID did not have a cell phone. Cost was the biggest barrier. Many also said they did not need one or found phones hard to use.
The gap was large when compared with the general public.
How this fits with other research
Emerson et al. (2007) ran a similar 2007 Irish survey. They asked about diet, exercise, and smoking instead of phones. Both studies show the same method works for shining a light on overlooked daily-life gaps.
Jackson et al. (2025) later tracked the same adult-ID group during COVID-19. Virtual doctor visits jumped from 5% to 59%. Their data extend Nelson’s finding: once cost and access hurdles drop, adults with ID do adopt tech fast.
Matson et al. (2009) reviewed 23 studies on community life. They found tiny social networks and little paid work. Low cell use fits that wider picture of exclusion.
Why it matters
You now have hard 2007 numbers to justify funding requests. Show funders the cost barrier and ask for phone subsidies or simplified devices. Pair this paper with Jackson et al. (2025) to prove adults with ID will use tech when barriers are removed. Start small: add one affordable smartphone with picture-based speed-dial to your next independence program and track how often it is used.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Although cell phone use has grown dramatically, there is a gap in cell phone access between people with disabilities and the general public. The importance of cell phone use among people with intellectual disabilities and studies about use of cell phones by adults with intellectual disabilities was described. Our goal was to determine the extent and scope of cell phone use by 83 adults with intellectual disabilities, reasons for nonuse, and factors affecting use. Results suggest a gap in the use of cell phone technology between people with intellectual disabilities and the general population. When used, they are employed primarily for emergencies, storing telephone numbers, and day-to-day communication. Chief reasons for nonuse include cost, perception of not needing one, and lack of accessibility.
Intellectual and developmental disabilities, 2007 · doi:10.1352/1934-9556(2007)45[1:CPUBAW]2.0.CO;2