Abstract

Social stigma has a profound impact on the daily lives of individuals with disabilities. Within the last few decades, however, technological advancements have provided a new medium that has the potential to transform how people with disabilities express themselves and connect with community. The internet has opened the door to new methods of working around the pervasive nature of discrimination and prejudice that individuals with disabilities have to face. While the internet is not exempt from such forces, it offers a platform for unfiltered self- representation and community connection. This research aims to illuminate the ways that people with disabilities use the internet to navigate social stigma through virtual communities. An ongoing content analysis of a random sample of disability related blogs seeks to examine the helping capabilities of the internet for individuals with disabilities while also exploring issues and solutions pertaining to web accessibility. Using a grounded theory approach, blogs are coded for themes of identity, connection, and accessibility among others. Through this exploratory research, a better understanding can emerge regarding how the web can be utilized as an important resource for the millions of people living with disabilities.

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