Recommendations

It is very important to emphasise that creating and developing digital assistive technologies is only the first step in equipping persons with disabilities with devices and technologies to support and increase their personal independence. Therefore, research into users’ digital and social barriers is equally important (Kett, Cole & Turner, 2020). Among the different kinds of disabilities, persons with intellectual disabilities in particular have less access to digital devices. The majority of persons with disabilities experience modern technology to help them in mastering their everyday life, and most of them feel optimistic about technological innovations. However, as we have seen in previous studies, not everyone feels competent to use them.

Moreover, it should be noted that the sample consisted of individuals who had access to computers or care givers and relatives who had accessed the survey for them. Thus, it can be assumed that the share of persons with disabilities who do not have access to computers or smartphones is even higher in the general population. Thus, before developing and operating digital mobility services and assistance systems, we need to remove the digital divide so as to facilitate access to digital systems to all.

To improve the use of digital assistive technologies, we recommend that assistive technology suppliers, social services, and education systems collaborate to: (a) provide users with disabilities with smart technologies (e.g. smartphones) to enable them to increase their use of technologies and reduce the digital divide; (b) raise their confidence and skill in using digital technologies; and (c) ensure that these assistive technologies suit the access needs of users with different types with disabilities.

Digital technologies offer the opportunity to move away from a “one-size-fits-all” model, and this is especially important as persons with disabilities have varied needs and experiences. Thus, technology must be adaptable to their individual circumstances. To make sure that digital technologies are applicable to users’ access needs, it is important to get accessibility experts and persons with disabilities themselves involved in the development process. Such an approach, in which persons with disabilities constitute an integral part of the development process, will yield products and services that can facilitate increased accessibility, independence, and community participation (Moon et al., 2019).