About Default Gateway

Free, human-to-human technology help for everyday life.

Default Gateway is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Licking County, Ohio, with a growing presence in Dayton, Ohio. We provide free, human-to-human technology help so people can use tech confidently in everyday life.

Our focus is on seniors and neurodivergent community members, and we welcome people with disabilities and low-income households. We do not turn folks away because they do not fit a label.

EIN: 39-4462075

Older adult using a tablet for a video call

Our mission

Accessible, personalized technology support.

Default Gateway empowers elderly individuals and neurodivergent communities by providing accessible, personalized technology support. Through one-on-one assistance, education, and digital resources, we help people build confidence, independence, and essential skills for everyday life.

We aim to close the digital divide with services rooted in trust, patience, privacy, and inclusion.

Dignity & Respect Accessibility Privacy Patience Community Partnership No Out-of-Pocket Costs Person-First Support

Connection is health infrastructure

Technology support can reduce isolation and help people manage daily life.

Digital access is not just convenience. It affects social connection, health care, independence, and whether someone can use the systems around them.

50% increased dementia risk is associated with social isolation, alongside 29% increased heart disease risk and 32% increased stroke risk. National Academies / NCBI

Positive effects were generally found for technology-based interventions on loneliness, social isolation, and psychosocial outcomes for older adults. Systematic review

Training matters Individualized ICT training can increase technology adoption and acceptance among isolated or homebound seniors. ICT training study

Health literacy Digital health literacy interventions for older adults can positively affect health status and health management. Systematic review

Who we serve

Support for people who need technology to feel less hostile.

Seniors

Patient support for older adults learning, simplifying, or safely using everyday technology.

Neurodivergent people

Practical systems for ADHD, autism, AuDHD, executive dysfunction, overwhelm, and real-life routines.

Disabled and low-income households

Help finding usable tools, affordable options, accessibility settings, and clear next steps.

Primary service area: Licking County, Ohio. Limited presence: Dayton, Ohio.

76.5%

of households including a disabled person had an internet subscription in 2018, compared with 85.3% of all U.S. households.

DOL / ODEP

85% vs. 95%

people with disabilities were online in 2021 compared with people without disabilities.

DOL / ODEP

OR 0.42

digital technology use was associated with reduced risk of cognitive impairment in a meta-analysis covering 411,430 adults.

Meta-analysis

Common barriers we address

Digital literacy gaps and past bad tech experiences.
Executive function challenges.
Affordability and confusion about what equipment, services, or plans are actually needed.
Access to healthcare, financial services, and essential resources.
Communication hurdles that can lead to isolation or lost independence.

What we teach and troubleshoot

Device basics and setup.
Online safety and scam prevention.
Email, messaging, and video calls.
Online grocery, pharmacy, appointments, and transportation support.
Google Docs, Google Drive, and file management.
Calendars, reminders, timers, and executive-function supports.
Accessibility tools like captions, screen readers, display settings, and focus aids.

Everyday tasks count

Support includes practical things like grocery lists, forms, reminders, and pharmacy apps.

We meet technology where it actually shows up: at the kitchen table, in a patient portal, while scheduling a ride, or when a simple list app suddenly feels complicated.

Generic grocery list app on a smartphone

How sessions work

One-on-one by appointment.
Usually 60 minutes.
Follow-up appointments as needed.
No public office yet.
Meetings may happen at partner or community spaces, in homes, or mutually agreed public settings.
Always free.
Sensory-friendly, calm, step-by-step support.

Equipment and affordable access

We do not currently loan or provide devices, but we are pursuing grants and partnerships. In the meantime, we can help identify reduced-cost device and internet options and assist with setup.

Privacy, security, and data ethics

Your trust is everything. Default Gateway collects the absolute minimum client information required to provide services. We never sell personal information. We do not store identifying client information on the public internet.

We may use anonymized, aggregate data, such as number of sessions or general skill goals reached, to apply for grants and demonstrate community need, but never names or details that could identify a person.

Get involved and donate

We are not accepting volunteers yet because of the sensitive nature of the work, client privacy concerns, and current insurance and vetting capacity. We are building toward a safe volunteer program in the future.

Accepted donation types include cash or check, direct deposit at TrueCore Federal Credit Union, and in-kind device donations on a case-by-case basis.

If your need is not listed

Please still reach out. We make every effort to meet technology needs, even when they fall outside typical categories.

Get help Donate

Our staff

People behind the gateway

Bridgette Showman

Executive Director

Aaron Stites

Technical Advisor

Quikson Diehl

Oversight

Sean O'Hara

Oversight