Enhancing mobile accessibility for persons with hearing and visual impairments: case for mobile as AT

This study assessed the feasibility and impact of providing smartphones and digital skills training to individuals with visual and hearing impairments in India, Kenya, and Brazil. Over 750 participants were trained to use Android accessibility features, with a focus on enhancing communication, education, and employment opportunities.

Key findings include the effectiveness of modular, disability-specific training and the importance of hands-on learning for participants with visual impairments. While smartphones enabled greater independence, challenges remained, such as language barriers for hearing-impaired users and inconsistent device accessibility.

The research highlights the potential of smartphones as affordable assistive technology but also points to barriers like inadequate support for hearing aids and lack of local-language materials. The study offers actionable recommendations for governments, smartphone companies, and academia to improve accessibility and integration of mobile technology for persons with disabilities.

Explore the full report for detailed insights and recommendations