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May
30
Posted by Liz Morris on May 30th, 2024
Posted in: Blog
Does this scenario sound familiar? You’re at an AirBnB after a long travel day, and all you want to do is watch your show. But there are 2 -4 different remotes that all seem to serve a different function and at least one of them has weird tape affixed to the back. You’re immediately frustrated that the seemingly simple task of turning on the TV isn’t easier. There are too many inputs, apps, and user choices between you and your goal. You just need the process to be more intuitive, or someone to show you how to do it. You need a Digital Navigator.
Digital Navigators are valuable contributors to digital inclusion efforts and health equity nationwide. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) defines Digital Navigators as “…trusted guides who assist community members in internet adoption and the use of computing devices. Digital navigation services include ongoing assistance with affordable internet access, device acquisition, technical skills, and application support.” With health information, communication, and even care happening increasingly online, digital navigation is a critical resource to help bridge the digital divide.
NDIA is a great resource for learning about potential partners in your digital health literacy efforts. Several organizations within Region 5 participate in the competitively selected National Digital Navigator Corps, providing digital navigation to rural and tribal communities. There are also several place-based digital inclusion coalitions throughout Region 5. NDIA has a searchable database of affiliated organizations invested in digital inclusion.
If your team is already using digital navigation expertise to promote health literacy, we’d love to hear from you and feature your work through a guest blog post! Reach out any time at nnlm@uw.edu.
ABOUT Liz Morris