Assistive Technology Information Seeking: Exploring Current Practices, Challenges, and the Need for Smarter Systems

Ninety percent of the 1.2 billion people who need assistive technology (AT) do not have access. Information seeking practices directly impact the ability of AT producers, procurers, and providers (AT professionals) to match a user’s needs with appropriate AT, yet the AT marketplace is interdisciplinary and fragmented, making information seeking difficult. We explored common limitations experienced by AT professionals when searching information to develop solutions applicable to this diverse group of stakeholders with equally diverse information needs. Through thematic analysis of 22 expert interviews, we find current search engines do not yield the necessary information, or appropriately tailor search results, impacting individuals’ awareness of products and subsequently their availability and the overall effectiveness of AT provision. We present design implications to improve functionality of future AT-information seeking platforms, through incorporating smarter systems to support decision-making and need-matching whilst ensuring ethical standards for disability fairness remain.