The internet is a great equaliser for people with disability, enabling users to take part in activities without the physical barriers they may encounter in the offline world. By going online, young people with disability can engage with others in an environment where they have more control over how they represent themselves – a place where they are not viewed in terms of their disability, unless they want to be.

However, young people with disability have been found to be more vulnerable to online harms and encounter higher rates of negative online treatment and potentially harmful content.

eSafety's research explores the online experiences of young people with disability and considers the digital parenting practices of their parents or carers.

This report is the third in a series of publications that draw on the Aussie Kids Online dataset – a nationwide survey of over 3,500 young people and their parents or carers, conducted between July and September 2021.