Access to smartphones in Kenya: the research case for mobile as AT
This latest AT2030 Insight Paper explores the impact of a groundbreaking intervention that equipped Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) and Blind and Partially Sighted (BPS) participants with smartphones and tailored digital skills training.
Results show that 78.8% of BPS participants significantly improved their digital abilities, gaining greater independence and privacy with features like TalkBack. Meanwhile, 71.8% of DHH participants enhanced their digital proficiency, with tools like Live Transcribe and Live Caption empowering them to communicate more freely, often without the need for a sign language interpreter.
This initiative tackles a critical challenge: in low-income countries, 90% of people with disabilities lack access to assistive technology. Through this intervention, mobile phones have become more than tools; they’re lifelines of opportunity, inclusion, and autonomy.