Assistive technology can revolutionize development, learning and participation: It’s time children everywhere have access.
Seeing. Hearing. Communicating. Moving freely. Many of us take these for granted. But what if you are a child who experiences difficulties in one, or more, of these areas?
In a fairer world, you would have the support of assistive technology to reach your full potential, helping you function, be independent, participate in society and guarantee your overall well-being.
There are an estimated 240 million children with disabilities worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries, more than 90 per cent of children don’t have access to the assistive technology they need. For children in humanitarian emergencies, the lack of assistive devices can be fatal.
The major barriers to assistive technology access include the high cost of products and services, limited availability in key markets, and a continuing lack of financing at the country and global levels.
The benefits are undeniable
Affordable and appropriate assistive technology can enable children and their families to overcome exclusion and stigma, while market-shaping activities (like negotiating better prices or making them more available) can help overcome their barriers to access.
Investing in assistive devices not only significantly transforms individual well-being but also offers substantial economic benefits to entire societies. For every US$1 invested, society receives a return of US$9, making it an impactful financial decision for governments and funders.
Disability inclusion represents a powerful business opportunity that can unlock new customer segments and drive significant social and economic returns.
Access to hearing aids, prostheses, eyeglasses and wheelchairs can notably promote equity for hundreds of millions of people in low- and middle-income countries. For a child who needs one of these four products, sustained provision can yield around US$100,000 in her or his average increased lifetime income. This is equivalent to an annual average of US$1,900 per person, or just over 25 per cent of average per capita income across Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).