Topical Talk

Assistive technology: developments and debates

Cutting-edge tech is transforming possibilities for many disabled people — but who gets access? Dive into the breakthroughs and the barriers.

Collage of pages from the “Assistive technology: developments and debates” teaching resource showing the cover and lesson plan

Published 25 October 2024

This lesson is more than a year old. Please check the facts before teaching to ensure they are up-to-date and still correct.

From AI-powered bionic limbs to “vision pads” at the 2024 Paris Olympics, new assistive technology can be life-changing for people who live with a disability.

However, while the market for assistive technology is booming, many disabled people cannot afford the technology that could improve their lives.

About this lesson

Use this one-hour lesson to help your students:

  • Learn about assistive technology
  • Hear about some of the different developments in the news
  • Debate some of the big questions about assistive technology

These teaching resources have been created with support from PA Consulting and The PA Foundation. The Economist Educational Foundation maintained full editorial control.

This lesson develops the following skill:

  • Problem solving

    Intermediate:
    Exploring problems

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