Harnessing Assistive Technology to Advance Social Inclusion for People with Disabilities: Findings from the EU COST Action a-STEP

This session presents key findings from the EU COST Action “Advancing Social Inclusion through Technology and Empowerment (a-STEP; CA19104),” a multisectoral network of researchers, practitioners, service providers, educators, developers, and people with disabilities from 35 countries. With over one billion people globally experiencing disability, and disproportionate poverty, health, and employment inequities, social inclusion remains a pressing challenge. Drawing on a-STEP’s international evidence base, we showcase how assistive technology (AT) can transform education, employment, and community participation for individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities, and share actionable recommendations to strengthen equitable, sustainable AT implementation across global policy and practice contexts.

In this session we will present the findings of the EU COST Action entitled “Advancing Social Inclusion through Technology and EmPowerment (a-STEP). a-STEP (CA19104) is a multisectoral consortium of researchers, practitioners, service providers, educators, developers and people with disability from 35 countries.

Globally, one billion people, or 15% of the world’s population, experience forms of disabilities. Among those, one-fifth of the estimated global total, or between 110 million and 190 million people, experience significant disabilities. Disability prevalence is even higher for developing countries and those with disabilities are more likely to experience adverse socio-economic outcomes such as less education, poorer health and employment outcomes, and higher poverty rates.

The European Commission’s Disability Strategy has identified social exclusion as one of the grand challenges confronting persons with disabilities, identifying it as both a consequence and a perpetuator of societal inequities. For instance, people with disabilities may have limited access to basic education, which can largely reduce their chances to obtain meaningful and gainful employment as adults. Globally, the employment rates of people with disabilities is significantly lower than their peers without disabilities. In addition to the socio-economic implications, social exclusion impacts negatively on self-esteem, mental health and quality of life. Thus, social inclusion is an important element of well-being for people with disabilities and a key component of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Research has highlighted that social inclusion can be promoted through access to education and employment.

Research has also demonstrated that assistive technology (AT) can be a meaningful way to improve access to education, employment, and community participation among people with disabilities. AT, include both high-end and low-end devices, are products, equipment, and systems that enhance learning, working and daily living for persons with disabilities. Despite the demonstrated efficacy of AT, the World Health Organization reports a critical gap, with only 10% of the global population in need of AT currently having adequate access. This disparity is particularly acute for individuals with autism, who face distinct barriers in social communication and integration. Social Inclusion maybe even more challenging for those who experience difficulties with social communication as is characteristic of autism.

We will highlight our comprehensive findings and strategic recommendations aimed at fostering accessible, sustainable, and effective implementation of AT in education and employment contexts, specifically targeting improved outcomes for individuals with autism and intellectual disabilities. By sharing these evidence-based insights, we aim to inform global policy initiatives and practical actions to significantly advance social inclusion and equity for persons with disabilities worldwide.