Inclusive innovation: unlocking the potential of tech for accessibility - Tech UK June 2025

The Royal Society have published a new report exploring the potential of digital assistance technology to support independent, fulfilled lives for people with disabilities.

Tech UK has long been committed to driving inclusion and ensuring the benefits of a tech-enabled world can be realised by all. Digital inclusion is not just about equipping people with the skills and support they need to use technology effectively; it is also about using and developing technology to create a more inclusive society.

In the UK, there are 16 million people with disabilities. The impact of disability can impact all aspects of disabled people's lives from accessing services to education and employment. According to scope, these individuals are over 50% more likely to face digital access barriers than non- disabled people. The discussion on technology, therefore, has two key dimensions; how we can deploy assistive technologies to tackle accessibility challenges in society, and how we can design technology in a way that not pose its own accessibility challenges.

Group photo of drop-in service.