"Sometimes I feel that I'm being lef behind": Exploring Computing Device Use by People with Upper Extremity Impairment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In this paper, we explore how computing device use by people with upper extremity impairment (UEI) was afected by COVID-19. Someone with UEI has reduced use of their shoulders, upper arms, forearms, hands, and/or fngers. We conducted six (6) semi-structured interviews with participants with UEI in the US. We found that people with UEI increased computing device use during COVID-19 not only for remote interactions but also in person. Additionally, social distancing for COVID-19 safety created the need for new assistive technology (AT), authentication requirements, and communication platforms, which introduced their own accessibility barriers. We also found that personal protective equipment (PPE) created new barriers during computing device use, which often caused people with UEI to choose COVID-19 safety over the usability of their computing devices. Based on these fndings, we describe future opportunities to make computing devices more accessible for people with UEI to manage the shifts in computing device use introduced by COVID-19.