Book review: Against Technoableism by Ashley Shew

A couple of months ago, I visited my beautiful home country, South Africa, for a holiday. Of course, no holiday is complete without a great book in hand. 'Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement' made it onto my reading list after glowing recommendations—and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint!

About the book

"A manifesto exploding what we think we know about disability, and arguing that disabled people are the real experts when it comes to technology and disability.

When bioethicist and professor Ashley Shew became a self-described “hard-of-hearing chemobrained amputee with Crohn’s disease and tinnitus,” there was no returning to “normal.” Suddenly well-meaning people called her an “inspiration” while grocery shopping or viewed her as a needy recipient of technological wizardry. Most disabled people don’t want what the abled assume they want―nor are they generally asked. Almost everyone will experience disability at some point in their lives, yet the abled persistently frame disability as an individual’s problem rather than a social one." - Amazon

The book is only 176 pages long but delivers a powerful impact!

I read the physical book and listened to the audiobook. Both formats are easily digestible, but I prefer the audiobook. The narration is conversational and engaging—it feels like listening to a friend. While the tone might seem informal, it addresses important topics bluntly and with the seriousness they deserve.

What is Technoablesim?

It’s the belief that technology is the ultimate solution for disability. This perspective is rooted in ableism—the discrimination and social prejudice against people with disabilities—and assumes that disabled people need to be ‘fixed’ through technology.

Technology is often positioned as a 'catch-all' solution, with little acknowledgement of the complex, multifaceted nature of accessibility, which also encompasses societal, cultural, and environmental factors.

This over-reliance on technology overlooks the potential for inclusive policies, attitudes, and structural changes to address these issues more effectively."

Technology is a tool, not a cure-all

• Technology is often seen as redemptive—a solution that will 'save' people with disabilities.
• Not everyone with a specific disability uses Assistive Technology tailored to that disability. For example, a person who is blind may not use a screen reader, which is a common Assistive Technology for visual impairments. Instead, they might prefer using braille displays or voice-activated devices like smart assistants (e.g., Alexa) to accomplish daily tasks.
• Some individuals may use a combination of Assistive Technologies in their daily lives, yet society tends to assume a one-size-fits-all approach, assigning just one Assistive Technology to a person.

Bring the focus back to people with disabilities

• Disability is not binary. Many people have more than one disability, yet society tends to assign only one label per person.
• Many disabilities are invisible.
• We need to put people with disabilities at the centre of their own stories. These stories are now told by non-disabled people.
• People with disabilities are frequently excluded from conversations about creating solutions. Instead, non-disabled people make decisions based on what they believe is 'best' for those with disabilities.
• Media narratives rarely challenge the idea that normalisation is the ultimate goal. For instance, there’s often an assumption that an amputee’s primary desire is to be 'normal' and walk again, which is not always true.
• The concept of 'inspiration porn' is harmful and rooted in society’s belief that living a meaningful life with a disability is extraordinary. It frames people with disabilities as overcoming their 'suffering,' objectifying them to inspire non-disabled people—either by making them feel good or guilty.

My personal learnings from the book

I've learned so much from this book but these are the 2 main insights I want to share:

1. As someone who works in technology, especially in the field of Accessibility, I am guilty of technoableism! It's so easy to lose focus of the bigger picture, the human aspect when creating inclusive solutions. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it will become even more prevalent and we need to be more guarded in losing sight of the people. Technology is a useful tool but it's not
2. Another great insight from the book is I know I have biases, and I'm working on unlearning them so I can make better decisions in the future. I'm grateful for this book that shines a bright light on my biases so that I can work on them.

My Personal Learnings from the Book

I’ve learned so much from this book, but the main insight I want to share:

As someone who works in technology, particularly in the field of Accessibility, I’ve realised that I am guilty of technoableism. It’s so easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when creating inclusive solutions.

Technology is a powerful tool, but it’s not the solution to everything.

Final thoughts

Against Technoableism' offers a profound perspective on how we approach disability, technology, and inclusion. It’s a compelling reminder that people with disabilities are the true experts in their own lives and must be at the heart of creating solutions.

I highly recommend it to anyone looking to grow their understanding and become a better ally in the pursuit of accessibility and equity.

Rating: 5 / 5

• Title: Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement
• Author: Ashley Shew
• Available on Amazon in all formats