Nairobi: The Global Assistive Technologies Day took place at the 6th Inclusive Africa Conference, where innovators, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and disability advocates gathered to champion the future of accessible technology across the continent. This year's celebrations in Nairobi highlighted Africa's growing leadership in shaping an inclusive digital future for all.
According to Kenya News Agency, globally, over 1.3 billion people, one in six, live with disabilities, yet far too many remain excluded from digital tools and services. However, only 1 in 10 people worldwide have access to the assistive technologies they require. As demand is expected to surge, Global Assistive Day calls for bold innovation, stronger partnerships, and increased investment to close this gap.
Meta Vice President of Accessibility and Engagement Maxine Williams, in her keynote address during the celebrations on Wednesday, praised Kenya's role as a digital innovation hub and emphasised that accessibility is an economic opportunity, not just a moral imperative. 'When we build with accessibility in mind, we unlock opportunity. We invest in people, and people build economies,' Williams said, emphasising that accessibility should be integrated from the outset of product development, driving usability and growth for all.
She said Meta's open-source artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including Llama and Massively Multilingual Speech (MMS), are already revolutionising accessibility in Africa. 'MMS supports over 1,100 languages, incorporating African languages that were previously excluded from AI,' she said.
Williams highlighted innovations such as Jacaranda Health's llama-powered maternal health assistant in Kenya, HelpMum's vaccine chatbot in Nigeria, Twiga's teaching assistant in Tanzania, and FoondaMate's AI study buddy, which is utilised by millions of students in Sub-Saharan Africa. She divulged that Meta is also enhancing accessibility across its global platforms, noting that real accessibility happens when those most impacted help design the solutions. 'WhatsApp now includes voice message transcription, while Facebook and Instagram provide improved screen reader support and AI-generated alt text, features developed in collaboration with the disability community,' said Williams.
Global Director of Gender and Economic Inclusion at the IFC Nathalie Kouassi Akon reinforced the business case for investing in accessibility. She shared the story of Regina, a Nairobi entrepreneur with a disability, whose business transformed after gaining access to a smartphone through an African fintech platform. She said despite the efforts to make technologies accessible, challenges remained, noting that nearly 80 percent of rural Kenyans with disabilities still lacked access to basic technology and financial services.
Akon highlighted the Mosaic initiative, launched in conjunction with ATscale, to enhance Africa's assistive technology manufacturing and skills development. 'The global assistive technologies market is projected to reach USD 60 billion by 2030, and Africa stands to benefit significantly if the right investments are made,' she said. She also applauded efforts to create 500,000 jobs for young people with disabilities across the continent. She called for greater collaboration between governments, industry, and civil society to foster inclusive innovation and responsible AI development.