Stakeholders in the disability-inclusion and technology space have called on visually impaired people to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve independence, productivity, and access to opportunities.
The call was made at a recent awareness and advocacy engagement focused on assistive technology and digital inclusion for persons with disabilities in Nigeria, where experts emphasised that emerging AI systems are increasingly becoming essential support tools rather than optional innovations.
Speaking at the event, a disability inclusion advocate, Ayoola Efunkoya, noted that access to assistive technology remains limited globally, underscoring the importance of users actively embracing available innovations.
“These tools are not luxuries. They are lifelines. Without them, many people with visual impairment are cut off from education, employment, and social participation,” he said.
He added that AI-powered solutions such as screen readers, object recognition apps, and voice-assisted devices are helping visually impaired persons navigate environments, read documents, and perform daily tasks more independently.
Other stakeholders also stressed the need for training and awareness, urging persons with visual impairment to build digital skills that allow them to maximise AI-based assistive technologies.
According to them, AI tools are already transforming accessibility through innovations such as wearable vision assistants, currency recognition systems, and real-time audio description technologies designed specifically for blind and low-vision users.
A tech consultant at the event added that inclusion must go beyond access to devices.
“Having the tools is not enough; users need continuous training and support systems to fully benefit from these technologies,” he said.
Stakeholders further urged government agencies and private-sector actors to expand investment in affordable assistive technologies and to improve digital literacy programmes for persons with disabilities.
The discussion aligns with a growing global trend in which AI is increasingly integrated into assistive technologies to improve independence and quality of life for visually impaired persons.
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Senior Reporter/Editor
Bio: Ugochukwu is a freelance journalist and Editor at AIbase.ng, with a strong professional focus on investigative reporting. He holds a degree in Mass Communication and brings extensive experience in news gathering, reporting, and editorial writing. With over a decade of active engagement across diverse news outlets, he contributes in-depth analytical, practical, and expository articles exploring artificial intelligence and its real-world impact. His seasoned newsroom experience and well-established information networks provide AIbase.ng with credible, timely, and high-quality coverage of emerging AI developments.