When Nick started having trouble online, with bullying and inappropriate contact, the people around him did what felt safest. They took away his internet access. It made sense at the time, but it also meant Nick lost access to something that most of us rely on every day.

That changed when Nick participated in free digital literacy training through The Arc of Greater Brockton, part of a nationwide program developed in partnership with AT&T and The Arc.

Through structured, plain-language training designed specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Nick learned how to:

• Identify and block unsafe or inappropriate contacts

• Understand what happens to information shared online

• Make informed decisions about what he shares online and where he goes

The difference has been remarkable. Today, Nick uses the internet to explore his interests, connect with others, and build toward his goal of full-time employment in food service. He's learning Spanish, finding recipes, and streaming movies and audiobooks on his own.

And Nick put it better than we ever could:

"I had trouble online before, and people didn't want bad things to happen to me, so my access was taken away. But through the training, I learned how to protect myself, like blocking people who shouldn't be contacting me and being careful about what I post. Now I use the internet to learn, connect with others, and explore my interests, and I'm becoming more independent."

Nick's story is a good reminder that safety online doesn't come from restrictions. It comes from education, support, and the chance to build real skills. That's what this program does, and it's free and available nationwide.

P.S. Programs like this mean a lot to Nick and other people with disabilities. Donate to The Arc to keep up this work, so that more people can be included in our ever-growing digital world.

For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.