Leveraging the Potential of Mobile for Persons with Disabilities

Executive Summary

An estimated one billion people globally suffer from some form of disability, 80 per cent of whom live in emerging markets.Currently, persons with disabilities (PWD) in these countries face a range of barriers, including isolation and discrimination, lack of community and institutional support, and a general lack of awareness of both the disability itself and mitigation strategies. Insufficient access to ICT exacerbates these challenges and efforts of stakeholders are often inadequate and misaligned. The ubiquity, affordability and innovation of mobile technology have the potential to improve the lives of PWD. By providing access to communication and information, mobile phones and related services could facilitate more inclusive participation in society and tackle the barriers PWD face. 
The GSMA Mobile for Development (M4D) department could help to ensure that the benefits of mobile technology are fully leveraged and shared by PWD in emerging markets, and that mobile providers are working to make their services accessible for all.