cttap services

Bridging the Digital Divide Program

The Bridging the Digital Divide (BDD) Program is made possible by the State of Connecticut Rural Healthcare Transformation Program (RHTP). Oversight is provided by Aging & Disability Services, CT Tech Act Project (CTTAP). Direct services are provided by the NEAT Center at Oak Hill and UCP of Eastern CT.
Program Reopens in Aug. 2026

Our goal is to help bridge the digital divide by providing one on one or group services to adults with disabilities (18 and older) and aging adults (60 and older).

Bridging the Digital Divide (BDD) Services:

Bridging the Digital Divide (BDD) helps older adults and adults with disabilities in rural towns across Connecticut build the skills, confidence, and access they need to use technology in everyday life. With our statewide partners we provide digital literacy training, one-on-one and group technology support, and Assistive Technology (AT) devices tailored to each person’s needs – helping to bridge the Digital Divide, expand access to telehealth and other virtual services, and reduce social isolation. Our training and support can include basic device set-up and operation, connecting to WiFi, using built-in accessibility features, accessing virtual services and community programs, using telehealth and online medical resources, participating in community activities, ordering groceries and shopping online, understanding online privacy and safety, and troubleshooting common technology issues. We also share practical guidance on online safety and how to use AI tools responsibly. When appropriate, we disseminate AT devices and technology based on individual goals and needs, and we connect and refer Clients to additional community services and supports.

We also partner with local “Entities” that serve our communities—such as public libraries, community centers, senior centers, housing for seniors and individuals with disabilities, independent living centers, and similar organizations—by providing technical guidance and train-the-trainer sessions to help staff better support their clientele.

Where do BDD Services happen?

Services can be provided In-home or virtually online or can take place at community resource centers like libraries, senior centers, assisted living, and community centers.

Services to individuals include:

Increase access to technology & technology use
Provide tech support, troubleshooting, & teach built in device accessibility features
Increase access to the community, virtual programming & telehealth to reduce social isolation
Connect Individuals to community resources for ongoing supports
Provide instruction on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help ensure people with disabilities and older adults do not fall further behind with this new technology.
Provide tablet technology if needed, and there is no other source available to help provide it.

Why connect with a Digital Divide Coordinator (DDC)?

If you or an individual you work with has technology but struggles to use it and would benefit from some training & support, such as

Connecting to their Wi Fi
Learning to use social media to connect to family and friends
Learning to use virtual platforms like Zoom, Teams or virtual community services
Learning how to access and use built in accessibility features in their devices, such as speech to text, magnification, text to speech, etc.
Learning about AI and how to benefit from using it, what are the pros and cons, and how to spot AI phishing attempts.

Services to Organizations:

Provide training to entities, such as staff at senior and community centers, libraries, and other organizations that serve the same population, to help them provide access and tech support to their participants.

Why connect your agency to a Digital Divide Coordinator?

If your organization serves adults with disabilities or individuals 60 and older, and you/your staff could benefit from training to be able to support your clients to:

Learn how to set up and use built-in accessibility features on your technology or your clients’ technology.
Learn how to set your clients up with virtual platforms or your virtual services.
Help clients use social media and other internet activities (e.g., online grocery shopping, accessing eBooks, connecting with friends & family or accessing telehealth).

To find out if you live in one of the eligible towns in CT visit the BDD Eligible Towns webpage (available soon).

For general questions about the Bridging the Digital Divide Program, please contact Amy Rubin Mindell, BDD Program Manager via email: Amy.Rubin-Mindell@ct.gov or phone: (959) 276-6536.

Bridging the Digital Divide program is operated out of the Department of Aging and Disability Services, CT Tech Act Project. This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $154,249,105.53 in Budget Period 1 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.