Digital Equity & Accessibility Resources

The AARP Personal Technology Resource Center provides resources and articles to help older adults navigate and use modern technology, including smartphones, tablets, apps, and social media, while also offering advice on online safety, and privacy. It aims to empower users to stay connected and engaged through the latest tech solutions.

The Ageless Access Principal Digital Navigation initiative is designed to improve digital health literacy and promote digital inclusion for older adults. This initiative helps aging adults access healthcare, social services, and stay connected with their community by addressing barriers such as technological inexperience and lack of access to devices or reliable internet. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Center for Digital Equity at Queens University of Charlotte and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Aging, trains and empowers Digital Navigators to help older adults successfully navigate the digital world.

The North Carolina Assistive Technology Program (NCATP) provides assistive technology services statewide to people of all ages and abilities. NCATP leads North Carolina's efforts to carry out the Federal 21st Century Assistive Technology Act by providing device demonstration, short-term device loans, and reutilization of assistive technology. 

The Digital Skills Ready@50+™ initiative by Senior Planet and AARP provides older adults with resources to enhance digital literacy, focusing on job searches, career changes, and entrepreneurship. Through classes, videos, and handouts, the program helps participants learn essential tech skills such as using Google Workspace, Zoom, and online safety.

The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) is a community of digital inclusion practitioners and advocates working collaboratively to craft, identify, and disseminate financial and operational resources for digital inclusion programs while serving as a bridge to policymakers and the general public.

OATS (Older Adults Technology Services) empowers seniors to harness technology to improve their social connections, health, finances, and overall quality of life. Through programs like Senior Planet, OATS works closely with older adults to help stay active and independent in-person and online through digital skills training, community engagement, and innovative tech solutions.

Through the Trees is a non-profit aimed at bridging the digital divide in Western North Carolina. They subsidize monthly internet fees for low/no income households, refurbish computers, advocate for internet expansion and teach digital literacy.

Relay North Carolina provides for those who have a hearing loss to make phone calls or actively participate in conference calls, virtual meetings or webinars while reading captions on an internet-connected laptop or mobile device.

SeniorNet is a nonprofit group dedicated to bridging the divide between older adults and technology. SeniorNet is passionate about helping older adults take advantage of new technology that can improve their quality of life, reduce isolation and engage in new and interesting ways. They provide online support, technology training, and more for older adults.

Aging Connected is a national, cross-sector campaign to bridge the digital divide and help older adults access essential public health information, social services, online community, and more through affordable, accessible internet. Through publishing original research and raising awareness of low-cost internet options, our goal is to get more seniors online and expand access to affordable broadband internet. 

Their mission is to work toward a state where all residents have access to the technologies, digital skills and opportunities necessary to thrive in today’s society with the mission of fostering collaboration among digital equity and inclusion leaders to bridge the digital divide in North Carolina. 

Collaborative Broadband, a project of the NC Rural Center, works with regional and local government officials to coordinate and facilitate the operations and activities of a regional broadband initiative. We are committed to universal last-mile broadband service in our state’s rural counties, and through this project we help rural governments create a locally driven process for broadband access and adoption.

Many communities and vendors around North Carolina offer Wi-Fi access locations for public use. Click the link to view a searchable map of public Wi-Fi access locations or scroll down to view the wifi access locations in a table.