Assistive Technology: Africa’s Untapped Equaliser of Opportunity

For millions of blind and partially sighted persons in South Africa and across Africa, each day is a stark reminder that access to assistive technology is not yet a lived reality. And for many, it remains a distant dream.

In South Africa alone, there are an estimated 2.5 million people living with visual impairments. And yet, access to essential assistive devices such as screen readers, magnification software, Braille displays, and accessible mobile applications is largely restricted to those who can afford them or those lucky enough to benefit from under-resourced public systems or donor support.

For the vast majority, the journey toward autonomy is blocked — not by a lack of ability, but by the absence of enabling tools.

One of the most enduring misconceptions about assistive technology is that it’s a special concession — a form of benevolence extended to those who are "less fortunate." This framing not only undermines the agency of persons with disabilities but also perpetuates a development model rooted in dependency.

Assistive technology must be mainstreamed as a public good. It should be embedded in national policies alongside education, transport, housing, and healthcare. When a child in rural Limpopo cannot read their textbooks because their school does not provide accessible learning materials, it is not a misfortune — it is a rights violation. When a job-seeker in Lusaka or Nairobi is turned away because the online application platform is incompatible with screen reading software, it is not an inconvenience — it is systemic exclusion.

Globally, assistive technology is a booming sector — yet most of the devices are developed in the Global North, priced in foreign currencies, and distributed by multinational companies that have little understanding of the African context.

We need to flip this model.

South Africa and its neighbours must invest in homegrown innovation. This means fostering partnerships between universities, tech entrepreneurs, disability organisations, and end-users. It means developing screen readers that support isiZulu, Sesotho, and Tshivenda — not just English.

It means building orientation and mobility apps that understand local street layouts, transport options, and even electricity load-shedding patterns. And it means ensuring these innovations are co-designed by persons with disabilities, not imposed upon them.

Imagine a world where affordable refreshable Braille displays are manufactured in Gauteng; where partially sighted learners in Uganda have access to magnification tools developed by local engineers; where a blind entrepreneur in Ghana uses a low-cost AI tool that reads product labels in Twi or Ewe. This is not utopia — it is within reach if we align our development goals with inclusive innovation strategies.

Technology on its own cannot dismantle barriers — it must be part of a larger, inclusive system.

Accessibility must be built into every level of public service delivery. Teachers must be trained to support blind learners using digital tools. Public libraries must stock accessible content. Employers must adopt inclusive hiring practices that incorporate the use of assistive devices as part of the workplace infrastructure — not as an afterthought.

Health facilities must make provision for accessible patient communication. And perhaps most urgently, digital services — from banking apps to government portals — must be designed with universal access in mind.

These systems must be guided by policies that go beyond compliance checklists. We need enforceable legislation that guarantees access to assistive technology across the lifespan: in early childhood, in higher education, in the workplace, and into old age.

The issues South Africa grapples with are not unique. Across sub-Saharan Africa, blind and partially sighted persons face similar challenges: limited supply chains, poor device servicing infrastructure, inadequate training support, and prohibitively high costs.

A regional strategy is long overdue. The African Union and regional bodies like SADC should spearhead continental platforms for assistive technology development, knowledge exchange, and procurement collaboration. We must move toward pooled resources, harmonised standards, and collective bargaining power to drive down costs and build sustainable distribution networks.

At the same time, we must resist the one-size-fits-all approach. Assistive technology solutions must reflect the diverse linguistic, cultural, and geographic contexts of the continent. 

At its heart, assistive technology is not about the latest device or sleekest app. It is about freedom. The freedom to learn, work, parent, travel, and participate in civic life. It is about dignity — about being seen, heard, and included.

When a blind child reads their first storybook in Braille, it is not a miracle of technology. It is a restoration of equality. When a visually impaired adult navigates a city independently with a smart cane or a navigation app, it is not a luxury — it is their right to movement. And when a partially sighted grandmother uses screen magnification to manage her own banking or read WhatsApp messages from her grandchildren, it is not digital wizardry — it is empowerment.

The South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB) is committed to building a future where assistive technology is part of everyday life — not something one must fight for. But this work is too big for any one organisation. It requires government departments to prioritise inclusive procurement.

It calls on the private sector to view accessibility as a market opportunity, not a compliance burden. And it challenges civil society to keep centring the voices and experiences of persons with disabilities in all our efforts.

We can — and must — create a future where assistive technology speaks all languages, serves all communities, and transforms every life it touches. When we do, we move closer to a world not just built for everyone, but truly inclusive of everyone.

Dr. Ashley Subbiah is the Manager of the Assistive Technology Centre at the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB), an organisation dedicated to promoting the rights, dignity, and full participation of blind and partially sighted persons in South Africa. The views expressed does not necessarily reflect those of  the Sunday Tribune or IOL.