THIS DOCUMENT IS MEANT TO SUPPORT AT STAKEHOLDERS as they work to understand and define the complex and interconnected digital AT space, and to identify activities for increased and sustainable access to appropriate and affordable digital AT. It will guide investment by the UK aid funded AT2030 programme, which is led by the GDI Hub, to test what works to increase awareness of, access to and successful adoption of affordable AT. ATscale will utilise the information to define its investment strategy. Based on the analysis in this report, increasing access to digital AT, including mobile phone-based solutions and stand-alone digital devices, can follow similar interventions identified for hearing aids, mobility devices, and eyeglasses. Like other AT, digital AT is not a just matter of provisioning the digital device, but also of ensuring its appropriate adoption, training, and accessible content development so that users can take full advantage of its benefits.
Similar to other AT areas, multiple large-scale investments and financial instruments will be needed to achieve long-term outcomes. For example, system-strengthening grants can support integration and uptake of digital AT into social service, education, and health systems, while match-funding or co-investments may catalyse government investment. On the supply side, donor investment may be leveraged to de-risk investment in accessible devices, and MNOs and other private sector stakeholders can be encouraged to further develop access programmes for people with disabilities and other limitations.
Numerous stakeholders have a role to play in strengthening the digital AT ecosystem, including several ministries, such as labour, education, ICT, social protection and/or health, the private sector, peer groups, DPOs, and other non-governmental and civil society organisations. MNOs, suppliers, manufacturers, and content developers should create and manufacture universally designed digital solutions that are low cost and can feed into and build the ecosystem. Any investments to increase access to digital AT should include technical assistance to strengthen cross-ministry coordination between ICT, health, education and social welfare ministries at the government level and with various other stakeholders, including the private sector.
The digital ecosystem continues to be driven by mobile technology globally, both within and beyond the AT sector. Prioritising mobile phones, particularly smartphones, as the digital AT of choice where appropriate would allow mobile to become the gateway to access additional applications, content, supportive add-ons (e.g. braille readers or switches), and features that can augment or replace stand-alone assistive devices. While smartphones will not be useable by everyone and they may have limitations (e.g. screen size), a smartphone is perhaps the easiest and at times the only digital device that is affordable and available in LMICs. The rise in awareness of AT and a growing focus on accessibility by industry also incentivises developers of AT to stick to smartphone ecosystems when making digital AT. This gives the AT ecosystem the necessary opportunity for consistent development and innovation. We envision a future in which all smartphones (and smart feature phones) have universal design embedded with accessible content, making them an integrated solution for individuals with disabilities or other functional limitations. Lastly, it will be important that interventions balance the need for freely available products with supporting commercial use and growth.
A common set of recommendations focused on improving access to the components and enablers of the AT ecosystem emerged from the individual product landscapes included in this document. While additional research is required on the potential prioritisation and sequencing of interventions to increase access, on how government policy and private sector engagement may drive local access to digital products, the role of local production, and on how to best bridge the gap between innovation and commercial sustainability, this common set of recommendations can be seen as high priority areas for improving access to digital AT in LMICs. The set includes:
To define and prioritise specific interventions applicable in a given country, mapping the digital AT ecosystem will likely be required and should highlight the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in availability, affordability, appropriateness, quality, and access to digital AT. This will allow for the development of a cross-sector and cross-ministry strategy that will improve access to the devices, platforms, applications and content that make up the digital AT ecosystem.