One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Embracing Diversity in Disability Through Assistive Technology
By Ali Jookhun
Today marks a historic moment: the first-ever World Day for Assistive Technology – a global call to action for equal access, innovation, and empowerment. It is a day to recognise the transformative power of assistive devices and to honour the millions of persons with disabilities who rely on them, not just to survive, but to thrive.
The Role of Assistive Devices in Disability Inclusion
Assistive devices are not luxuries. They are lifelines.
Assistive technology bridges the gap between exclusion and participation, as well as between marginalisation and dignity, for many persons with disabilities—whether they have physical, sensory, intellectual, psychosocial, or multiple disabilities.
Each person’s needs are unique. A child with Down syndrome may require visual schedules and communication tools to facilitate interaction and learning. A Deaf adult may rely on video relay services or captioning tools to communicate and work. A person with cerebral palsy may depend on a wheelchair and adaptive switches to move and interact with their environment.
That is why we say, “One size doesn’t fit all.”
The Diversity of Disability Requires a Diversity of Devices
Disabilities are not uniform, and neither should the devices or supports provided be. Inclusive solutions must be:
Responsive to intellectual and developmental disabilities – using tools like symbol-based communication boards, accessible apps, or task-sequencing supports.
🦻 Tailored for sensory disabilities, such as screen readers, braille devices, cochlear implants, or vibrating alarms.
♿ Designed for physical impairments – through mobility aids, prosthetics, exoskeletons, and home modifications.
🧍♂ Supportive of psychosocial disabilities – including calming devices, support animals, and mental health apps.
👩🦯 Adapted for multiple and complex needs – involving integrated, multi-use technologies and caregiving tools.
No single solution can serve all. Inclusion must be individualised, guided by respect, lived experience, and person-centred design.
A Global Inequity
Globally, 2.5 billion people require one or more assistive products, yet only one in ten in low-income countries has access. This reflects not just a gap in technology but a justice gap.
Many African countries, including Mauritius, face structural challenges in providing equitable access to assistive technology: limited budgets, centralised procurement, a lack of training, and outdated policies. This day is an opportunity to recommit to systems change, not just device delivery.
From Awareness to Action
We must treat assistive devices as part of a broader ecosystem of support and rights-based development, not as isolated solutions.
🛠 Invest in local, affordable assistive technologies
🧑🏽🔧 Train professionals and caregivers
🧑🏽🦽 Co-create with persons with disabilities—not for them
📜 Reform laws and policies to ensure AT is a right, not a privilege
🏥 Link assistive devices with education, health, employment, and social protection
Voices That Matter
Let us listen to the self-advocates, parents, carers, and organisations of persons with disabilities worldwide. Their voices remind us that assistive devices are not just tools—they are a source of freedom, agency, and hope.
As we celebrate this first World Day for Assistive Technology, we must go beyond awareness. Let this day of action be the beginning of a global movement for affordable, appropriate, and accessible technology—for everyone, everywhere.
About the author
Ali Jookhun is a Mauritian disability rights advocate who received the Commonwealth Point of Light award in 2018. Motivated by his late twin daughters, born with multiple disabilities, he created Mauritius’s only Down Syndrome support network in 1993. Over 25 years, his organisation has improved the lives of over 1,500 persons with disabilities, providing vital education and healthcare advice to 75 Mauritius Down Syndrome Champion – Points of Light members. He works with government ministries and helped establish Mauritius’s Special Education Needs Authority, promoting inclusive learning environments and raising awareness through annual World Down Syndrome Day events.
