Policy Brief on Assistive Technology (AT) and Employment
Key Messages
• Assistive technology (AT) acts as a critical enabler to overcome barriers to employment
and has the potential to transform access to employment for persons with disabilities
and other AT users.
• Despite the existence of policies in many low-and middle-income countries mandating
reasonable workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities and AT users,
the lack of funding mechanisms and coordinated AT infrastructure has prevented
these policies from being effectively implemented.
• Significant barriers hinder access to AT for employment, including issues related to awareness,
affordability, availability and usability, impacting both AT users and employers.
• Since the informal sector accounts for the majority of employment in most low- and middle-
income countries, and since persons with disabilities are more likely than those without
disabilities to work in the informal economy, it is imperative that policies and funding
mechanisms address the AT needs (...)