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Inclusion through technology: findings from a public engagement approach
Barbara Catherine Wortmann1,2, Iris de Boer1,3, Vanessa Grand4
1Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health Professions at Bern University of Applied Sciences, Bern, Switzerland.
Objectives:
Many people with disabilities in Switzerland face exclusion, especially in mobility, work, and leisure. Assistive technologies can support participation and wellbeing, particularly when developed with user involvement. This study explored societal perspectives on inclusion through technology using a public engagement approach.
Methods:
The study took place at the Swiss Abilities Fair 2024 in Lucerne. At an interactive booth, visitors tested assistive technologies like a robotic arm and a recumbent trike. They shared their views in semi-structured interviews conducted by physiotherapists and a wheelchair-using researcher. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The sample included people with and without disabilities.
Results:
Forty-one people participated. Non-disabled participants emphasized equality and acceptance, while those with mobility impairments focused on barriers and support. Assistive technologies were seen as key to independence, though gaps in innovation, access, and affordability remain.
Conclusion:
Inclusion is a shared societal responsibility that requires awareness, participation, and adaptable solutions. While assistive technologies support independence and participation, interviewees emphasized that true inclusion also depends on affordability, access, user involvement, and broader structural change.
