Digital literacy training for those with IDD in Oklahoma

Access is not an afterthought to equality. It is what equality is made of. A right that a person cannot actually exercise, because the tools, the training, or the entry point were never built with them in mind, is not fully a right at all.

That is the argument at the center of digital literacy work, even though it rarely gets framed that way. For Oklahomans with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the ability to safely navigate a phone, a video call, or a news feed is not a convenience. It is often the difference between staying connected to a job, a family member, a doctor, or a community, and being quietly shut out of all four.

Most people learn these skills without ever being taught them directly. They learn to spot a scam text, tell a real headline from a fake one, and set boundaries in an online relationship simply by living online long enough to make mistakes and correct them. For many adults with IDD, that informal path never opens, not because the skills are out of reach, but because no one built a version of that education for them.

That gap is not a small inconvenience. It is a barrier to full participation in the same civic and economic life that the Americans with Disabilities Act was written to protect thirty-plus years ago. Digital access is simply where that promise shows up now.

That is the gap our free Digital Literacy Training aims to close.

What digital literacy training is

Our Digital Literacy Training is built on AT&T's digital literacy curriculum, adapted specifically for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is not a generic computer skills class retrofitted for a different audience. It was built from the ground up around the real risks and real questions those with IDD actually encounter online:

• How to recognize cyber safety threats

• How to spot misinformation before sharing it

• How to understand and manage a digital footprint

• How to navigate online relationships safely

• How to build healthy digital habits day to day

In 2025, 327 Oklahomans completed this training. That number is not just a statistic for a grant report. It is evidence that the need and demand are real, and that the program works when people have the chance to attend. It is also part of why this training matters so much right now.

Who this training is for

This training is for self-advocates, family members, direct support professionals, and program staff, anyone who wants to build their own confidence and safety online, or who supports someone else who does. No prior technology experience is required. No specific device is required. The only real requirement is showing up.

What a session looks like

Every session is free to attend, and three are running this August across two formats. The live, in-person session was earlier this week, but there are still two more sessions to come:

• August 19, virtual — Noon to 1 PM. Covers digital habits and online relationships. A Zoom link is emailed after registration.

• August 26, virtual — 6 to 8 PM. Covers cyber safety and online misinformation.

Anyone who completes a session and shares feedback afterward is entered for a chance to win an Amazon Fire Tablet.

Why this matters right now

We have set a goal of training 250 Oklahomans by the end of September, a number tied directly to the grant funding that keeps this program free for everyone who attends.

Right now, turnout is running well behind that goal. That is not a small gap to close. Every seat that goes unfilled this August makes it harder to justify, and eventually harder to fund, offering this training again next year.

This is not a program we are hoping will eventually fill up on its own. It depends on Oklahomans deciding to show up for it now, this month, before the deadline that funds it arrives.

Common questions about digital literacy training

• Do I need my own device? No. A device is not required to attend or participate in any session.

• Is it really free? Yes. Every session, whether in person or virtual, is entirely free to attend.

• Do I need any experience with technology? None. These sessions are built for people starting from zero, and every part of the curriculum is adapted specifically for adults with IDD.

• Can I bring this training to my own organization? Yes. Multiple topics are available, and sessions can be tailored to fit a specific group's needs. Contact Tonia Gist at tgist@thearcok.org to schedule a training.

Register for an upcoming session

Registration takes less than five minutes.

👉 August 19 registration 

👉 August 26 registration

Equality is not just the absence of exclusion. It is the presence of real access, built specifically for the people who need it. Every Oklahoman who registers for one of these sessions helps ensure that access is available for the next person who needs it, too.