Disability technology

The Disability Technology report explores the potential for data-driven digital technologies to reduce barriers that disabled people encounter in their everyday lives. Whether for work, play, rest or care, inclusively designed, sustainable digital assistive technologies can create a more accessible society for all.

Digital assistive technologies (DigAT), if designed and deployed appropriately, can be transformative in helping disabled people live more independent and fulfilled lives. From voice assistants, speech-to-text software and smartphone apps for daily living, the report highlights how disabled people are using digital assistive technologies in work, play, rest, and care. While this report is focused primarily on the needs of disabled people, disability access is relevant to all as everyone can experience temporary and permanent disability throughout their life.

In addition to exploring the landscape of DigAT, the report is focused on various challenges within the DigAT lifecycle related to data, inclusive design and sustainable adoption. In the age of AI, built on vast datasets, this report emphasises the importance of innovative research methods, such as small data, which help researchers derive insights from limited data and can be useful for development of personalised DigAT.

This report was informed by a series of activities undertaken by the Royal Society. These include a survey of more than 800 UK-based disabled people; a nationally representative survey of approximately 2,000 members of the British public; focus groups with UK-based DigAT users; literature reviews on disability data and small data; a case study analysis of DigAT in the UK, US, India and Kenya; and various roundtables and workshops on inclusive design, gaming, social care and technology transience.

This report has been guided by an international expert steering committee, many of whom have lived experience of disability. The steering committee includes Professor Sir Bernard Silverman FRS (Chair), Dr Vint Cerf FRS, Professor Jacques Fleuriot, Dr Hamied Haroon*, Dr Louise Hickman, Professor Catherine Holloway, Prateek Madhav, Professor Paul Upchurch*, Professor Seralynne Vann*, and Professor Mike Wald.

*Royal Society Diversity and Inclusion Committee Disabled Scientists Subgroup

Access the report

• Download the full report (PDF)
• Download the executive summary (PDF)
• Read the report (HTML)
• Listen to the full report on YouTube

FAQ

What is digital assistive technology (DigAT)?

• The Disability Technology report defines DigAT as ‘any technology that processes information to help make people’s lives easier’. This definition of DigAT was co-formulated with disabled people as part of focus groups conducted by the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC). Examples of DigAT include screen-readers, speech-to-text software, or smartphone applications which support daily living.

What is disability data and why is it important?

• Disability data refers to information regarding an individual’s disability (eg type, severity and support requirements); a disabled person’s other personal data (eg demographic details, medical history, behavioural data and individual preferences); and national or international information on disability prevalence within a population.
• Disability data can be used to estimate support needs, evaluate policies and interventions and understand demand for DigAT products and services. This data is often commissioned by policymakers to understand service provision needs and by innovators to investigate potential markets. Given its relevance for ensuring disabled people’s needs are met, it is important the data collected is trustworthy and reliable.

What can be done to support better disability data and adoption of DigAT?

• Data collection should focus on data on assessing specific functional challenges and limitations people may face, rather than solely focusing on disability identity. This approach would provide a more nuanced understanding of how people experience limitations in their day-to-day lives, allowing for better-informed policymaking.
• Disabled people, in the UK and across the world, are less likely to be in work and more likely to earn lower wages, when compared with non-disabled people. The affordability of DigAT should be seen as a key priority for all interested in their development and adoption. Governments, technology companies and research funders should explore initiatives to promote low-cost, interoperable and sustainable digital assistive technologies.
• Whether creating specialised DigAT or mainstream technologies, ensuring the inclusion of disabled people throughout the lifecycle of a product, from conception to design and deployment and to end-of-life, is important to improving their accessibility, and can lead to a better overall user experience for disabled and non-disabled people alike.

Read the report (PDF) to learn more.