The Disability Inclusive AI Manifesto calls on law and decision makers to include the disability perspective in AI regulatory conversations and decisions, adopting assistive technologies in AI legislation. With this manifesto, persons with disabilities, their allies and accessibility professionals, call on governments, law, and policy makers to include assistive technology in AI regulatory and compliance frameworks, conversations and decision making.

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The disability community can benefit hugely from AI driven assistive technologies, equally this calls for endless trust your privacy is protected. - And in case people don’t think about it, it is important that regulators do!!!!

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In respect to the UN CRPD[1] Article 4: General Obligations ensuring and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities. In adopting appropriate AI legislation recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities and protecting them against discrimination. Secondly in relation to Article 12: Equal recognition for the law, it is important to include disability into discussions and decisions about AI legislation. Assuring Article 9: Accessibility will be granted by these technologies.

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States parties must recognize the dependence and trust of persons with disabilities using assistive technologies in support of independent living, social, and economic participation in society. In extend, privacy can be given by these technologies because persons with disabilities no longer must depend on people helping them. When these assistive technologies fail, privacy is taken, and users are at risk becoming victims of crimes. All types of AI can be a high impact opportunity for persons with disabilities when used respectfully. Starts with standards for accessible and inclusive AI in assistive technologies, as independent application or embedded in other software/mobile application.

 

The following minimal legal requirements must be included in disability inclusive legislation for the development and/or use of AI driven assistive technologies:

• Disability data must be handled with utmost care:

• Introduce a best-efforts obligation disability is represented fairly in data, availability of a quality benchmark must be promoted, and the use of datasets and applied algorithms must be transparent in prevention of any form of bias in either data or algorithms used

• Disability data is protected accordingly to GDPR

• AI driven accessibility assistive technology must be included in the highest risk regulatory category or equivalent in legislation/policies. As these assistive applications/technologies in its use register traceable personal data in support of independent living, and abuse of this data makes users with a disability highly vulnerable becoming a 3rd party victim in criminal activities or even personality at risk of crime such as identity theft

• Protecting customers with disabilities:

• Awareness such as mandatory disclaimers on the risks of AI driven applications/technology, must be available and easily accessible for customers/users with disabilities – know what you’re using

• Educating persons with disabilities on the risks of using AI driven accessibility applications/technologies, becomes a priority for the companies providing these technologies and educational institutions

• Protect customers/employees with disability privacy (abuse) because of their unique characteristics which makes them easier to be recognized by interfaces and algorithms using assistive technologies provided independently or as part of standard software packages

• Accessibility

• All AI driven technologies/interfaces must be accessible according to the standard EN301549[2] or WCAG[3] (2.1 AA) and preferably designed according to the 7 Universal/Inclusive Design principles[4] so persons with all kinds of disabilities can be involved on the development and audits of AI driven assistive technologies

• R&D funds for further development/improvement/ethical use/etc. of AI must include all above disability inclusion requirements to be granted.

 

Recommendations beyond this manifesto on Disability Inclusive AI for Assistive Technologies:

For successful delivery of disability inclusive AI beyond assistive technologies, we strongly recommend to include a representative panel of persons with disabilities in future legislation, research and development of all types of AI respecting the credo of the UN CRPD “Nothing about us, without us.’

 

[1] UN CRPD: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2006

[2] EN301549 is the EU standard for ICT accessibility

[3] WCAG: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, set by W3C

[4] Universal Design Principles as set by the Centre for Excellence in Universal Design