The document discusses accessibility and inclusive design in emerging markets. It finds that while persons with disabilities value mobile phones for communication, a "mobile disability gap" exists where they are less likely to own or access mobile technologies compared to persons without disabilities. Existing digital solutions are often not suitable or accessible for many persons with disabilities in emerging economies. The document calls for digital products and services to be designed inclusively for all.

1. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design

2. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Understanding the Mobile Disability Gap in
Emerging Markets
Clara Aranda-Jan
• Insights Manager, Mobile for
Development
• GSMA
• carandajan@gsma.com
20 Nov | 4.00 PM

3. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
THE GSMA
Has represented
the interests of
mobile operators
worldwide for
more than
30 YEARS
Unites
more than
750 400
with almost
Convenes more than 200,000
people annually from across the
globe to industry-leading events
Led the mobile
industry to formally
commit to the
Sustainable
Development Goals
Focuses on
activities where
collective action can
deliver significant
benefits
mobile
operators
companies in the
broader mobile
ecosystem

4. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Insights &
Stories
Engagement
Advocacy
Innovation
Funding
Persons
with
disabilities
Mission: Driving greater inclusion of people with disabilities by
maximising the potential of mobile as a digital assistive technology
Assistive Tech Programme (Objectives for
2019-2023)

5. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Insights from the Mobile Disability
Gap in Kenya and Bangladesh
GSMA Assistive Tech

6. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
One billionpeople globally have some form of disability
(WHO, 2011)

7. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
90%children with disabilities do not attend school
(UNICEF, 2016)
in developing countries

8. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
80%adults with disabilities are unemployed
(WEF, 2019)

9. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
1 in 10of those who need Assistive Technologies have access to them
(WHO, 2018)

10. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Mobile to bridge the Digital Divide
• Where access to ATs is extremely limited, mobile phones have
the potential to be bespoke and cost-effective tools for
people with disabilities, as their versatile nature allows them
to cluster together multiple ATs in a single device.
• The nexus of mobile & disability remains under-researched,
despite the significant opportunities which exist

11. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Research Goal
Understand access to mobile phones and services by Persons with
Disability in Kenya and Bangladesh the role of mobile (and operators)
as an enabler of participation.

12. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
The Mobile Disability Gap
More than 10% less likely
to own a mobile phone than non-
disabled persons in each country
Less than 30% of persons with
disabilities own a smartphone
Persons with disabilities have high levels of access to mobile phones (owned or borrowed)

13. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Those with no education are less
likely to own a phone
Those with multiple disabilities
are less likely to own a phone.
The Mobile Disability Gap

14. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Who owns a smartphone?
14% (Kenya)49% (Bangladesh)59% (Kenya) 17% (Bangladesh)

15. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Mobile phones are often gifted to persons
with disabilities or purchased second-
hand
Does who do not own a phone, many
borrow a phone
Paths to ownership and access

16. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
While a Mobile Disability Gap exists, there
are power users of services
Visually impaired smartphone
owners using mobile internet daily
(vs 56% of non-disabled
smartphone owners)
69% (Kenya)
Persons with disability who have
a mobile money account (vs
14% of non-disabled persons)
25% (Bangladesh)

17. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Barriers to mobile ownership, access and use
of services
AffordabilityDisability Digital literacy
Safety and
confidentiality
Perceived
value as AT

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What about accessibility?
Only ~10% of
smartphone users with
disabilities in each country
reported using accessibility
features

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Why aren’t more people using accessibility
features?
Lack of
awareness
AffordabilityDigital literacy

20. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Mobile is breaking barriers and increasing
independence
“For many of you mobile is just like any other device
–for me it is a companion in my life”
- Male, 25, visual impairment, Kenya

21. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Mobile enables access to financial
services, healthcare and education to
persons with disabilities

22. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Safaricom’s introduction of Interactive
Voice Response

23. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Digital Exclusion
“Persons with disabilities have more limited
access to information and communications
technology than persons without
disabilities…There is a significant gap between
persons with and without disabilities in the use
of the Internet.”
United Nations Disability and Development
Report (December 2018)

24. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Existing solutions for digital accessibility
are not always suitable

25. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
Awareness and digital skills are still a
challenge for digital inclusion

26. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
• Persons with disabilities value mobile as communication tools, but a mobile
disability gap exists in emerging markets.
• In these markets, the needs of persons with disabilities for accessing,
owning and using mobile technologies are not satisfied.
• Digital solutions are still inaccessible for many persons with
disabilities in emerging economies.
• Digital products and services need to be designed for
everyone
Summary of lessons

27. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment
GSMA Mobile for Development
@GSMAm4d

28. The Future of Accessibility and Inclusive Design
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