Disabled people urge role in AI design to improve access
Disabled adults in the UK say the most important step to make AI more accessible is to involve disabled people in designing, developing and testing it, according to polling commissioned by Business Disability Forum and conducted by Opinium.
Two-fifths, or 40%, of the 1,032 disabled adults surveyed chose direct involvement in product design and testing as a key way to improve accessibility. Other leading responses were more user-friendly interfaces at 38%, greater availability of information about how AI can support disabled people at 37%, and more support to help disabled people get started with AI at 36%.
User priorities
Respondents were also asked where AI could be useful now and in future. More than a third, 38%, said AI tools could improve communications, while 34% pointed to better online experiences.
Healthcare and education also featured strongly. A third of respondents, 33%, said AI could improve access to healthcare information and communication, while 32% said it could improve access to education and digital content accessibility.
Other perceived benefits included support for independent living, cited by 31% of those surveyed. A quarter, 25%, said AI could improve customer experience, while 24% said it could improve access to employment and workplace experience.
Not all respondents were convinced. One in five, or 20%, did not think AI products could help disabled people, while a further 18% said they did not know whether they would.
The results were broadly in line with those from the wider public. In a separate survey of 2,000 UK adults, 34% said AI would be more accessible if disabled people were involved in its design and development.
Inclusion focus
The findings highlight both AI's potential value and the risks of excluding disabled people from decisions about how it is built and used. Business Disability Forum has set out recommendations for businesses, developers, employers and HR leaders on product design, workplace adoption and oversight.
For businesses and developers, the group recommends involving disabled people from the outset and throughout the AI lifecycle. It also calls for clearer information on accessibility features, checks on compatibility with assistive technology, and human oversight to reduce the risk of new barriers or biased outputs.
Its guidance for employers takes a similar approach. Accessibility and disability inclusion should be built into AI strategy, with disabled workers consulted from defining need through procurement, testing and review.
Employers should also ensure AI tools work with assistive technology, maintain human oversight in decision-making, and provide accessible training so staff understand both product features and the importance of accessibility.
Lara Davis, Communications Director, Business Disability Forum, said: "There is the potential for AI products and tools to make a radical and positive difference to disabled people's lives, but there is also the risk that disabled people could be left behind. With AI developing at pace and 1 in 4 people experiencing disability at some point in their lives, this is not an issue that we can afford to overlook.
"Businesses, AI developers and employers must actively consult with their disabled consumers and employees to make sure they are involved in the design, development and testing of AI products to assess their suitability. Disabled people also need better access to information and advice about AI, more generally," said Davis.
Lucy Ruck, who leads the organisation's Tech Taskforce, said: "AI has the capacity to transform lives, but only if we get inclusion right from the start. Making sure that disabled people are active participants in shaping this technology isn't just the right thing to do, it's how we build AI that genuinely serves everyone," added Ruck.