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Artificial Intelligence's Impact on Persons with Disabilites in Africa
Deep Insights

Jerry John Kponyo, Bernard Chiira, Christopher Harrison, Hanyurwimfura Damien (eds.)

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST); Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust (AT4D); Next Step Foundation; Tangaza University College; Kenya National Commission for Science, Technology, and Innovation (NACOSTI) (2025), ix, 169 pp.

"Artificial intelligence has the potential to improve the daily lives of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Africa in practical, cumulative ways—transcribing, translating, summarizing, personalizing, and predicting to reduce routine frictions in school, work, health, mobility, and access to publi ... c services. The study surveys this emerging landscape across Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and comparator contexts, mapping how AI augments assistive technologies (AT) and mainstream services while clarifying the policy, data, and delivery conditions that determine real-world impact. Across sectors, we find promising AI use cases beyond traditional AT. In education, adaptive tutors, captioning, and sign-language tools can widen access, though localized content and language coverage remain thin. In employment, AI can support job matching, accessible applications, task breakdown, and on-the-job accommodations, especially when paired with employer guidance and incentives. In mental health, chatbots can extend scarce services and offer stigma-free entry points to care; caregiver tools use voice, translation, and simple workflows to ease coordination and stress. Mobility and independent living benefit from computer vision, speech interfaces, and early robotics, with African innovators piloting sign-language avatars, personalized speech recognition, and lower-cost bionics. The potential of these advances is real but uneven—most remain pilots, and scale requires fit-for-purpose data, infrastructure, and financing. One binding constraint is data. Disability is systematically under-counted in official statistics and under-represented or misrepresented in AI training sets, creating a “disability data desert” that limits accuracy for African contexts (from atypical speech and local sign languages to recognition of mobility aids). Without deliberate collection, curation, and governance that center PWDs, models will continue to miss or misread disabled users, with downstream harms in inclusion, safety, and opportunity. Building representative, ethical datasets—especially for African languages and disabilities—emerges as a first-order priority alongside affordable computing and connectivity. Policy momentum is encouraging but incomplete. The African Union’s Continental AI Strategy (2025–2030) explicitly names disability inclusion, calling for accessible datasets, skills, and governance. Ghana’s and Kenya’s AI strategies also advance infrastructure, data sharing, and public-sector adoption, although explicit disability provisions are still maturing. Convergence around rights-based, inclusive AI is visible; however, its delivery depends on procurement standards, budgeting for accessibility, and participation by Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in the design and oversight process. The study’s central conclusion is pragmatic: AI’s near-term value for disability inclusion is unlocked where three conditions meet. First, inclusion by design—co-creation with PWDs and OPDs, localized languages, and multi-modal accessibility baked into products and datasets. Second, enabling rules and rails—national strategies that mandate accessibility in digital services, robust disability-relevant data, and align incentives for inclusive procurement. Third, sustainable delivery—hybrid human-AI service models, community channels, and financing that lower costs for users and caregivers while supporting innovators to move from pilots to scale. Where these conditions hold, AI can measurably widen access to learning, work, and care; where they do not, tools plateau as proofs-of-concept and risks of bias and exclusion grow. Overall, the path to disability-inclusive AI in Africa is clear: invest in representative data and affordable infrastructure; mandate accessibility and accountability; and deliver through locally grounded, human-centered services. Done together, these steps turn today’s pilots into equitable, reliable systems that expand agency and opportunity for millions of Africans with disabilities." (Executive summary) more

Disability Representation in Bangladeshi Media: A Study on Inclusion in Content and Organizational Practices

SoMaSHTe

UNESCO (2025), 26 pp.

"The study emphasizes the vital role of Bangladeshi media in promoting inclusion and equality for persons with disabilities (PWDs). While progress has been made, gaps in representation, accessibility, and workplace inclusion remain. Key priorities include adopting inclusive formats like sign languag ... more

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Inklusive Medienarbeit: Menschen mit Behinderung in Journalismus, Radio, Moderation und Film

Ernst Tradinik (ed.)

Köln: Herbert von Halem Verlag (2024), 432 pp.

"Dieses Buch bietet einen Überblick über Theorien zu und Beispiele von inklusiver Medienarbeit aus Deutschland, der Schweiz und Österreich. Der Herausgeber definiert Inklusive Medienarbeit als "die Medienarbeit von und mit Menschen mit (Lern-)Behinderung und/oder psychischer Erkrankung". Das Fel ... more

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Representaciones cómicas de la discapacidad: Entre inclusión y exclusión

Susanne Hartwig, Soledad Pereyra (eds.)

Berlin; Boston: De Gruyter (2024), 220 pp.

"La risa contiene un momento de distancia y distanciamiento, pero al mismo tiempo también se refiere a un grupo social y, por tanto, indica pertenencia. Sin embargo, no existe un criterio objetivo para determinar cuándo y en qué condiciones la comicidad se convierte en violencia y crueldad, y el ... more

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Handbuch audiovisuelle Translation: Arbeitsmittel für Wissenschaft, Studium, Praxis

Alexander Künzli, Klaus Kaindl (eds.)

Berlin: Frank & Timme (2024), 429 pp.

"Das Buch ist in fünf Abschnitte mit insgesamt 33 Artikeln gegliedert, die in Form eines Top-down-Ansatzes einen Überblick über allgemeine, theoretische Fragen bis hin zu konkreten Einzelphänomenen und Themen geben. Teil 1, „Theoretische und disziplinäre Zugänge zur audiovisuellen Translatio ... n (AVT)“, situiert den Gegenstand in sieben Beiträgen in der Forschungslandschaft, beleuchtet das Thema aus wissenschaftstheoretischer und textologischer Sicht und stellt verschiedene Forschungszugänge vor, die von linguistischen über kognitionswissenschaftliche, filmnarratologische und soziologische Perspektiven bis hin zu Fragen der Barrierefreiheit reichen. Danach wird in Teil 2, „Formen der AVT“, das Feld im Hinblick auf die verschiedenen translatorischen Phänomene ausdifferenziert. In insgesamt neun Artikeln werden die theoretischen und praktischen Probleme, Fragestellungen und Herausforderungen sowohl der „klassischen“ Übersetzungsarten wie Untertitelung, Synchronisation und Voice-over als auch der jüngeren Erscheinungsformen wie Übertitelung, Audiodeskription und Videospielübersetzung sowie von bislang in der AVT-Forschung vergleichsweise eher selten behandelten Formen wie Remakes, Filmdolmetschen und Sprachversionsfilmen präsentiert. Translation findet immer in bestimmten Settings und Kontexten statt, diese werden in Teil 3, „Institutionelle Aspekte“, in sieben Artikeln beschrieben. Dabei wird nicht nur gezeigt, wie die Akteurinnen und Akteure und ihr Handeln von Fernsehanstalten, Streamingplattformen, Synchronstudios und Untertitelungsfirmen, Museen und Theater beeinflusst werden, sondern auch, welche Rolle Berufsverbände für die Praxis spielen. Teil 4, „Methodische Zugänge“, beschäftigt sich mit den Instrumentarien und Herangehensweisen zur Erforschung der AVT. In drei Artikeln werden dabei sowohl das Produkt als auch der Prozess und die Rezeption sowie die handelnden Personen in den Blick genommen, um angehenden und arrivierten Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern das methodische Rüstzeug für die Erforschung von audiovisuellen Translationsphänomenen zu präsentieren. Abschließend werden in Teil 5, „Zentrale Themen in der AVT“, wesentliche Einzelaspekte aus dem breiten AVT-Spektrum herausgegriffen und in insgesamt sieben Artikeln diskutiert. Diese reichen von Ausbildungsfragen über Qualität und technologische Entwicklungen bis hin zu so unterschiedlichen Themen wie Musik, Gender und Politik in der AVT." (Einleitung, Seiten 17-18) more

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Disability Equality in Media. Representation | Accessibility | Management

Paris: UNESCO (2024), 102 pp.

"This Practical Manual advances Disability Equality in the Media. It offers handy recommendations for all industry professionals - from editors and reporters to content producers and technical teams, as well as human resources officers and managers. The manual supports the adoption of more inclusive ... more

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Disability and Media: An African Perspective

Tafadzwa Rugoho (ed.)

Cham: Palgrave Macmillan (2024), xvii, 269 pp.

"This book seeks to expand some of the existing, often western and Global North facing, scholarship in the area of Disability and Media Studies to include African perspectives. Featuring predominantly Africa-based contributors, it studies an array of topics on disability and media in Africa, includi ... more

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Cripping Girlhood

Anastasia Todd

Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press (2024), xi, 218 pp.

"Cripping Girlhood offers a new theorization of disabled girlhood, tracing how and why representations of disabled girls emerge with frequency in twenty-first century U.S. media culture. It uncovers how the exceptional figure of the disabled girl most often appears as a resource to work through post ... more

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Information Ecosystem Assessment: Jordan

Aida Al-Kaisy

Internews (2023), 63 pp.

"This report provides an assessment of the media landscape in Jordan from the perspective of its audiences. Based on audience research, it examines the key issues emerging around media usage, trust, content, and literacy. It is based on data that was collected throughout June and July 2023; the medi ... more

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A systematic review of photovoice research methods with people with intellectual disabilities

Deborah Chinn, Bogdan Balota

Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, volume 36, issue 4 (2023), pp. 1-14

"Photovoice is an arts-based participatory action research methodology that is growing in popularity. Our aim was to systematically review photovoice research with people with intellectual disabilities to describe the current'state of the art' and identify areas for further methodological considerat ... more

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Revised Guidelines on the Inclusion of Learners with Disabilities in Open and Distance Learning (ODL)

Dianne Chambers, Zeynep Varoglu

Paris: UNESCO (2023), 39 pp.

"These Guidelines recognize the value of ODL as one of the most sustainable methods for overcoming the educational barriers faced by persons with disabilities. They also highlight and illustrate the facets of an ODL- facilitated education system using open educational resources (OER), free and open- ... more

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The Palgrave Handbook of Disability and Communication

Michael S. Jeffress, Joy M. Cypher, Jim Ferris, Julie-Ann Scott (eds.)

Cham: Palgrave Macmillan (2023), xix, 552 pp.

"The Palgrave Handbook of Disability and Communication covers a broad spectrum of topics related to how we perceive and understand disability and the language, constructs, constraints and communication behavior that shape disability discourse within society. The essays and original research presente ... more

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Technology in Disability-Inclusive Education

Paris: UNESCO; Global Education Monitoring Report Team (2023), 43 pp.

"This report outlines the actions driven towards inclusive education, including skill-based training, online learning and classroom settings, and low-tech to high-tech assistive technology (AT). Skill-based training, one of the most important skills for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), covers life ... more

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Scorecard: Accessibility of Government Websites to Persons with Disabilities

Florence Awino Ouma, Nicodemus Nyakundi, Judy Okite

Nairobi: Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) (2023), 32 pp.

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Disability and ICT Accessibility Framework Indicators: A Framework for Monitoring the Implementation of ICT Accessibility Laws and Policies in Africa

Paul Kimumwe, Wakabi Wairaga, Victor Kapiyo et al.

CIPESA (2023), 27 pp.

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My ability: News for persons with disabilities by persons with disabilities

Windhoek: Namibia Media Trust (2023), 2 pp.

"The Namibia Media Trust (NMT) has launched a project to empower persons with disabilities in Namibia. The project aims to help enable them to actively participate in democratic processes and develop critical media production and literacy skills for self-advocacy. The NMT believes that decisions con ... more

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Reporting Guide to Investigating Disability Issues
Key Guides

Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) (2023)

"This guide seeks to help journalists report on issues impacting people with disabilities in a way that is informed and without prejudice. It includes information on some of the various definitions of disability, important data and resources, and key issues for journalists to investigate. It also di ... more

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A Guide to Improving the Accessibility of Indian News and Newsrooms

Priti Salian

Oxford: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (2022), 30 pp.

"I spoke to 14 journalists with disabilities in India who painted a vivid picture of the barriers they face to joining the industry, finding employment, and thriving in the workplace. And what affects these journalists translates into media products that reflect a lack of accessibility for our audie ... more

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Using Radio Drama to Tackle Disability Discrimination in Nigeria

Akunna Penny, Manju Gautam, Alasdair Stuart

London: BBC Media Action (2022), 15 pp.

"As part of the Inclusive Futures programme, BBC Media Action produced a radio drama, Story Story, and accompanying social media content, to tackle stigma and discrimination around disability in Nigeria. This content was broadcast from November 2020 to November 2021 through local radio partners in s ... more

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ICT accessibility overview: Assessment for the Africa region

Monica Duhem

Geneva: ITU (2022), vi, 50 pp.

"The aim of this report is to support ITU members and stakeholders from the Africa region in their efforts to achieve inclusive digital communities by assessing ICT accessibility as a key driver in achieving digital inclusion within the digital transformation process. The report provides an overview ... more

Artificial Intelligence's Impact on Persons with Disabilites in Africa Deep Insights

Reporting Guide to Investigating Disability Issues Key Guides

Artificial Intelligence's Impact on Persons with Disabilites in Africa
Deep Insights

Reporting Guide to Investigating Disability Issues
Key Guides