Mobile-Technology-Driven Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Punjab

The study examines how mobile technology serves as a catalyst for the empowerment and social inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Punjab, India. Grounded in the Social Model of Disability and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), it adopts a mixed-methods framework integrating quantitative analysis and qualitative review to capture both measurable and contextual dimensions of digital inclusion. The objectives are: (1) to explore how mobile technologies enhance accessibility, participation, and empowerment among PwDs; (2) to analyse the sociocultural, demographic, and attitudinal factors influencing adoption and utilisation; and (3) to triangulate quantitative and qualitative evidence to identify the key enablers and constraints of digital empowerment. Secondary data were analysed through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), and regression diagnostics, while a PRISMA-guided systematic review and manual thematic analysis of 90 studies provided interpretive depth. Results indicate that education and income positively predict empowerment, whereas age, gender, and affordability act as structural barriers. Themes of public perception, social support, and accessibility reflect a dynamic interplay between attitude and opportunity. The triangulated findings reveal that technology-driven empowerment is most effective when combined with positive social attitudes, inclusive education, and equitable policy interventions. The study contributes to the discourse on assistive and mobile technologies within India’s Digital-Inclusion agenda and offers a framework for sustainable ICT-enabled participation of PwDs.