Meaningful Participation Must Be the Bedrock of Digital Assistive Technology and It Should Be Global Law, By Terry Loerch

By Terry Loerch

A recent report from The Royal Society underscored something that the disabled community has long known but that too many innovators still overlook.... if disabled people are not included from the very beginning, digital assistive technologies risk being ineffective, exclusionary, or even harmful.

Digital assistive technology includes everything from audio-to-text apps and navigation tools to wearable health monitors, smart-home systems, and screen readers. When developed correctly, these tools transform lives. In a survey of hundreds of disabled individuals, more than half said they could not live the way they do without such technologies. Yet the same report reveals a deeper truth: many disabled people around the world still face economic hardship, making even basic accessibility tools financially out of reach. The promise of technology is meaningless if those who need it most cannot afford it or are not involved in shaping it.

The findings emphasize that governments, researchers, and technology companies must include disabled people meaningfully at every stage of development. They are not test subjects or afterthoughts; they are co-creators. True accessibility begins with design that is informed by lived experience, not as an added feature, but as a fundamental principle. Smartphones and everyday digital devices should also be recognized as legitimate forms of assistive technology. They are not lesser tools; they are vital lifelines for millions.

The report also calls for better data collection. Instead of simply labeling individuals as “disabled,” systems should focus on the real-world challenges people face, mobility, vision, memory, and communication, and how technology can address those issues. But for this to succeed, infrastructure must be strengthened. Without affordable internet, accessible training, or reliable devices, no app or software, no matter how advanced, can make an impact.

What this report outlines is not just best practice for one nation. It is a global necessity rooted in human rights and common sense. The world needs a binding international law, one that ensures the meaningful inclusion of disabled individuals in all stages of assistive-tech development, mandates affordability, requires accessible infrastructure, and enforces accountability across borders.

Imagine a world where every innovation, from AI voice assistants to mobility aids, is created with direct input from those it aims to serve. Where nations share best practices, collaborate across cultures, and prioritize accessibility as much as they do defense, finance, or trade. The payoff would be immense: empowered individuals, stronger economies, and a more just, inclusive society.

Technology was never meant to divide us. It was meant to elevate humanity. For that to happen, inclusion cannot be optional; it must be written into law. Every country, every company, every developer must treat accessibility not as a checkbox, but as the foundation of innovation.

If technology defines the future, then the future must belong to everyone. It is time to legislate inclusion and make it the law of the world, not tomorrow, not someday, but now.