International Day of People with Disabilities

Assistive technology: Unlocking Potential For All

Assistive technology (AT) plays a critical role in creating an inclusive society, enabling people with disabilities to access education, jobs, and healthcare, and even the ability to move freely in their communities. 

From wheelchairs and hearing aids to screen readers and Braille displays, assistive products support the independence people with disabilities. Coupled with training, equipment maintenance, and community support, AT can unlock the potential of hundreds of millions worldwide. 

However, only 5-15% of those who need AT globally have access to it, with the disparity being even greater in low income countries. For instance, in the Indo-Pacific region, access can be as low as 3%, compared to 90% in wealthier nations like Australia. 

To close this gap, we need greater investment in AT throughout the Pacific to increase its affordability and accessibility for people with disabilities.  

Pre-conditions to Inclusion: Laying the Foundation for Equity

In collaboration with our partners, CBM Australia recognises pre-conditions to inclusion as an ecosystem through which people with disabilities are able to participate and engage meaningfully in their communities. These include:   

• Non-Discrimination: Ensuring that laws and policies do not discriminate on the basis of disability and guarantee equal access to justice and services. 
• Accessibility: Making physical environments, transportation, and information and communication technologies (ICT) accessible to everyone, allowing people with disabilities to participate in all areas of life. 
• Support Services: Providing personal assistants, interpreters, peer-led support, and other services that allow people with disabilities to fully engage in society. 
• Participation and Empowerment: Strengthening organisations of people with disabilities (OPDs) to ensure their voices are heard in decisions affecting their lives and advocating for their rights. 

These pre-conditions, coupled with targeted social protection and inclusive budgeting, are essential to breaking down the barriers that continue to prevent people with disabilities unlocking opportunities in their own lives.  

Climate Change: Facing the Impacts Unequally

The climate crisis is rapidly worsening, and while Pacific nations contribute only 0.02% of global carbon emissions, they are among the hardest hit by rising sea levels, ocean warming, and other devastating impacts.  

For people with disabilities, these disasters create disproportionate challenges. They are four times more likely to die during extreme weather events like floods or cyclones, often left out of emergency response efforts. 

Findings from the Pacific Disability Forum’s 2022 report on ‘Disability and Climate Change in the Pacific’ found that climate change is amplifying the risks and exclusion that people with disabilities already experience in their daily lives as well as introducing new risks and creating barriers. 

This growing instability is of significant concern to communities who already experience extreme barriers to inclusion within their communities, including in securing employment and household security.  

As the climate crisis accelerates, it is crucial to work in consultation with people with disabilities to build disaster-resilient communities that prioritise their diverse needs. This requires greater access to emergency shelters, early warning systems, and inclusive humanitarian responses that account for the unique vulnerabilities of these individuals.  

By addressing these inequities, we can help build a future where everyone has a fighting chance, regardless of their ability. 

Gender and Disability: A Double Burden of Marginalisation

Women with disabilities are among the most marginalised in society, facing barriers not only due to their gender but also their disability.

They encounter discrimination in education, healthcare, employment, and accessing assistive technology – particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access to AT is as low as 3%.

Gender inequality compounds these challenges, as women’s needs are often deprioritised. Additionally, women with disabilities are more likely to live in poverty and rely on out-of-pocket payments for the technology and support they need.

By addressing these intersecting barriers, we can unlock opportunities for women with disabilities to participate equally in society, build livelihoods, and contribute to their communities.