On November 24, 2023, the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) published its report on “Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support people with disability in the labour market”, which looks at the dual nature of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a potential facilitator and barrier to the employment of people with disabilities.
The OECD’s extensive research, which included interviews with over 70 stakeholders, resulted in a research report both looks at the opportunities of AI-powered solutions, but also addresses the inherent risks and challenges associated with the increased use of AI. The European Disability Forum (EDF) contributed to this report as a stakeholder representative, with Haydn Hammersley and Kave Noori from the EDF-secretariat providing EDF’s insight and expertise.
About the report
The report identifies four categories of AI-powered tools that can support people with disabilities in the labour market:
- Disability-centred solutions, that offer direct assistance,
- Environmental adaptation solutions, that modify the workplace
- Meta-level accessibility solutions, that streamline supportive processes
- Innovative tools, that carve out new employment avenues previously inaccessible to people with disabilities
The report also discusses the need for governments to update their policies to better utilise the potential of AI and protect the rights of people with disabilities.
EDF’s contributions to the report
Haydn Hammersley, EDF’s Social Policy Coordinator, highlighted concerns about protecting the privacy of people with disabilities. He emphasised the fear that AI could indirectly reveal their disability status to employers even if the person does not want to disclose it. He also emphasised the importance of truly understanding the needs of people with disabilities when developing technology to ensure its usefulness and relevance.
Kave Noori, EDF’s Artificial Intelligence Policy Officer, addressed the need to include all types of disabilities in the process of co-creating AI solutions. He said that we need to raise our expectations of when an AI solution is ready to be released on the market if we want to ensure that the products are safe and inclusive, especially when AI solutions are used in high-risk situations, such as deciding who gets a job.
Important takeaways from the report
AI has the potential to deepen inequalities
The employment gap for people with disabilities has not improved in the last 10 years: people with disabilities are 2.3 times more likely to be unemployed than people without disabilities. The OECD found a 27 percentage point difference in employment rates between these groups. While AI has the potential to deepen inequalities if not managed properly, according to the report, it also offers opportunities to create a more inclusive work environment and break down barriers.
AI alone may not be enough to close the employment gap
Furthermore, AI technologies can be adapted to different needs and integrated into mainstream solutions. However, there are concerns about their reliability, potential for discrimination, data privacy and inaccessible user interfaces. Furthermore, AI alone may not be enough to close the employment gap for people with disabilities as it does not take into account societal attitudes and stereotypes.
Limited funding for research and development
The report also mentions that the development and commercialisation of AI for inclusion and accessibility face challenges, including limited funding for research and development, difficulties in attracting skilled AI talent, and a lack of accessibility training for developers. Innovations often do not make it beyond the prototype stage due to these challenges.
Lack of involvement of persons with disabilities
According to the report, the most frequently cited barrier to the adoption of disability-inclusive AI is the lack of involvement of persons with disabilities and users in the development of AI-based solutions. This results in the development of AI solutions that are irrelevant (because they do not meet real needs) and impractical (if the solutions are not connected to existing policies, actors and support systems). The adoption of solutions for people with disabilities is also hindered by the low IT literacy among those whom the solutions are being designed for and/or the lack of interoperability between new AI-based solutions and existing hardware and assistive devices.
Recommendations
The report includes recommendations from the interviewed stakeholders. The stakeholders call on governments to adopt anti-discrimination measures, revise procurement policies, improve quality control, support research and development, simplify reimbursement mechanisms, introduce certification standards for AI solutions and include accessibility training in computer science education.
Further information and access to the full report
Cover image: © OECD – November 2023