Including persons with disabilities in the development of new technologies and AI – possibilities, challenges, risks and opportunities

Key points

The EESC:

• believes it is crucial to include persons with disabilities throughout the process of designing, developing, assessing and implementing new technologies and AI-based applications. This involvement is key to mitigating potential discriminatory risks;

• invites the Member States and the EU to audit and evaluate to what extent AI applications are inclusive in critical fields;

• believes further follow-up is required to protect persons with disabilities from the harmful application of supposedly limited risk systems, particularly in the field of employment and recruitment;

• underlines the importance of ensuring the general accessibility of services and goods that apply new technologies and AI‑based solutions;

• believes that Member States must ensure that the opportunities generated by new technological developments and AI applications are translated by employers into accessibility improvements and reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities;

• recommends increasing public expenditure on research and development of AI‑based solutions for accessibility and technological assistance, and improving public knowledge about these technological advances;

• urges Member States to implement and increase the existing programmes on digital skilling for persons with disabilities, to improve their current situation and qualifications in these fields, while working to increase the inclusion of persons with disabilities in tertiary education and vocational training in technological sectors;

• highlights the need to promote reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities in the workplace, including in public and private recruitment processes, skilling and vocational training as well as in tertiary education.