Self driving vehicles need to collide with people who have disabilities and use assistive technology

ASSISTIVE  TECHNOLOGY —DISABILITY— AND SELF-DRIVING WHEN WORLDS SEEM TO AVOID COLLEDING AND WHY?

For decades now, rehabilitation technology, or assistive technology,  has been  used to help expand the function of people with disabilities.  From hand-held magnifiers to robotic prosthetic limbs  engineers. And consumerswith disabilities have worked together  to make  independent e  more possible.  For  a considerably shorter time. Car makers. Have  attempted  to expand the function of. Their automotive systems.  

The public has accepted and sometimes marveled (unwarranted at times) at the disability-related  technology and because it usually enhances a body function  we have labeled  “medical” devices and priced accordingly.  That means  some simple technologies are wildly overpriced for  people with disabilities.  So there is one problem assistive tech for  people with disabilities  is overpriced because it is seen as somehow out of the ordinary.  

Now  here is a second  challenge....one that has been raised  repeatedly.  Here is a group of people used to using assistive. Technology all ready to become more independent by using “self-driving” vehicles.  Yet, it does not seem as if their expertise or needs are being fully considered in the emerging.auto space.  So people  who are experts are being excluded from as challenge where their knowledge. Could be helpful.    In addition, a number of these vehicles are. Now. Reaching the point  where  modifying. Them to meet standards of access would be an after thought.  Modifications would be seen as an add-on and  likely. Not a cheap one.  Once again  this idea of “special equipment” means. People with disabilities  would pay more for something that might help everyone.  The original self-opening doors at stores. We’re  thought to be an expensive modification and now  nearly every large retail space has them for all customers.  

The final thing  to be addressed. Here is the lack of the assistive technology. Media and the autonomous. Vehicle media  talking about this on a regular. Basis.  Update after update on assistive technology never features what assistive  features are  being (or are  NOT) being built into  vehicles.  The folks reporting on the development of the vehicles are not  talking about  how accessibility is being built either.  

This lack of conversation is troubling.  Are the new  vehicles going to be a segregated  arena when  they could be. One of the most integrated  pieces of assistive technology. Ever. Produced worldwide?  

It is time these conversations start to happen.

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