Sustainable assistive technology and employment opportunities for graduates with disability: Mediating role of government support

This study evaluated the impact of sustainable assistive technology (SAT) on the employment opportunities (EOs) of university graduates with disabilities (GwDs) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and examined whether government support (GS) acts as a mediating factor on said impact. A sample of 205 GwDs from five universities in the KSA completed questionnaires online. Covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) of the resultant data revealed that assistive technology type (ATT), AT accessibility and usability (AU), and AT long-term viability (LV) have significant influences on the EOs of GwDs in KSA. GS was found to have an indirect positive effect on SAT effectiveness for improving EOs. The present findings support the supposition that SAT can be critical to empowering GwDs, particularly with respect to enhancing their EOs in the KSA. Additionally, the findings indicate that it is worthwhile for governments and other stakeholders to assess workplace SAT utilization regularly and to work to improve SAT accessibility, affordability, and usability. These findings support increased investment in and attention to SAT by researchers, funders, and non-profit organizations.