International Day of People with Disability - Market Developments

The global disability market comprises around 1.27 billion consumers…the spending power of disabled people in the UK alone is approximately ￡274bn and growing as our populations age. It is not surprising that the market has responded with some thoughtful and useful developments:

1.??Adapted devices for healthcare professionals with disabilities: Healthcare professionals with disabilities bring diverse skills and viewpoints to the medical world. Specially designed devices are being developed to assist these healthcare professionals to overcome the challenges of performing standard patient examinations, with additional features having benefits for all healthcare professionals:

• One such device from the Global Challenges for the Third Century Initiative has a long, flexible wire and a camera in its speculum (cone-shaped piece at the end of a standard medical otoscope used to examine a patient's ears) and displays images on any mobile device meaning a healthcare professional doesn’t need to stand or lean over a patient.?
• Adding video recording/ live streaming would provide a variety of opportunities for all doctors, such as looking back at older recordings to see if a condition has changed, sending the recording to a specialist, or using it to teach medical students.

Read More at: Medical devices developed to assist doctors with disabilities - Med-Tech Innovation (med-technews.com)

2.??Aesthetic design in assistive devices: Assistive devices prioritise function over form, but some users have criticised their lack of aesthetic appeal. Consumers want less beige plastic ‘medical device’ and more colour, style and design features that reflect their personality. The industry has listened – here are some examples:

• byACRE Danish company that produces rollators made of carbon fibre with a sleek, aesthetically pleasing design available in a range of colours
• Colourful and customised walking sticks from NeoWalk
• Children can choose different colours for multiple sleeves for prosthetic arms with Limbitless bionic limbs.?This boosts their confidence, and allows them to express themselves

Read more at: https://www.medicaldevice-network.com/analysis/assistive-device-design/

3.??Digital solutions?to improve autonomy: Digital technology is increasingly enabling more inclusive products and services, with several now on the market that help people with disabilities or neurodiverse conditions live more independent lives. Even the world’s poorer nations can use digital solutions as suitable and relatively affordable tools.

• Orange has developed a number of platforms specifically tailored to meet the needs of people with disabilities – read more here: Disability: 9 digital solutions to improve autonomy | Corporate (orange.com)
• The World Bank describes here how the digital workplace can provide more opportunities than before to people with disabilities: Read more here: Five reasons why digital work may help promote inclusion of youth with disabilities (worldbank.org)