Accessible Consumer Electronics Are Essential to Closing the Gap in Assistive Technology Provision.

Abstract

According to the Global Report on Assistive Technology (2023) [1] more than 2.5 billion people require one or more assistive products - a number that is expected to grow to over 3.5 billion by 2050 due to the aging of our societies. Over the past decade, the design of products that empower people with a disability has shifted from specialized and dedicated products designed only for those with a disability to features and functions integrated into cost-effective consumer technologies for the benefit of all. The opportunity to expand the availability of such technologies is at risk of being ignored due to models of AT delivery that are founded in medical devices, and which have failed to reflect trends in our understanding of technology and the choices and preferences expressed by persons with a disability. This research suggests that such expansion offers significant benefits to people with a disability and better both economic and social return on investment for authorities.