The Intersecting Liminality of Technology Adoption and Disability during Life Transitions
Eliane Figueira, Chaima Jemmali, Kristen Shinohara · 2026 · ACM Transactions on Accessible Computing · doi:10.1145/3797260
Summary
This paper introduces the concept of "intersecting liminality" to explain how people with disabilities navigate technology adoption during major life transitions. The research combines two complementary studies: semi-structured interviews with 22 blind and low vision (BLV) older adults about their smartphone adoption experiences, and a systematic literature review of 42 papers from 2014-2024 examining technology adoption by people with disabilities during life transitions. The theoretical foundation draws on van Gennep's rites of passage framework, which describes transitions as three-phase processes: separation (leaving a former state), liminality (the ambiguous in-between period), and incorporation (integrating into a new state). The authors extend this with Turner's anthropological work on liminality as a state of "betwixt and between" where individuals exist outside normal social structures. The key innovation is recognizing that people with disabilities often experience multiple overlapping liminal states—becoming disabled, aging, adopting new technologies, retiring, and other life changes—that compound and prolong the transitional experience. The interview study revealed how BLV older adults navigated smartphone adoption alongside other transitions like vision loss, retirement, and aging. Many participants described extended periods of uncertainty, frustration, and identity negotiation as they learned to use accessibility features while simultaneously adjusting to disability and changed life circumstances.
Key findings
The systematic review identified 11 categories of life transitions that intersect with technology adoption for people with disabilities: ability change, aging, retirement, school transitions, entering or changing jobs, joining technology communities, becoming an adult, joining LGBTQIA+ centers, romantic relationships, moving countries, and disability identity change. Most papers (32 of 42) examined a single transition, while 10 explored multiple concurrent transitions. A critical finding is that liminality during technology adoption is not merely about learning to use a device—it involves fundamental identity work and social repositioning. Participants described how smartphone adoption forced them to confront their disability identity, negotiate help-seeking behaviors, and redefine their sense of competence and independence. The research identified "communitas"—a sense of community and mutual support among those sharing liminal experiences—as essential for successfully navigating these transitions. BLV older adults who connected with peer communities, disability organizations, or informal support networks were better able to exit prolonged liminality. Those lacking such connections often remained stuck in uncertain, frustrating transitional states for extended periods.
Relevance
This research has significant implications for how accessibility practitioners and technology designers approach assistive technology adoption. Rather than treating technology learning as an isolated skill acquisition process, designers should recognize that users may be simultaneously navigating disability, aging, career changes, and other major life transitions. The findings suggest that technology adoption support should extend over time rather than being limited to initial setup or training. Facilitating connections to peer communities—whether disability-specific organizations, senior centers, or informal networks—may be more valuable than technical instruction alone. Accessible technologies should be designed with awareness that users may be in vulnerable, uncertain life stages where patience, flexibility, and emotional support matter as much as usability. For organizations, this research highlights the importance of creating pathways for people with disabilities to connect with others sharing similar experiences, rather than focusing solely on individual accommodations or training programs.
Tags: life transitions · liminality · technology adoption · blind and low vision · older adults · disability identity · aging · assistive technology · peer support · communitas