Microsoft launches disability data hub to help inform future policy and legislative conversations
Microsoft has teamed up with the World Bank to launch an online “disability data hub” to close the disability gap and inform future policies.
Aiming to help the 15 per cent of people globally who have a disability, the disability data hub will provide a clearer picture of disability prevalence, representation and inclusion globally.
The basis for this new, borderless and public-facing hub is that more data is required to understand the scale of the living conditions and development outcomes for disabled people.
The resource hopes to raise awareness surrounding the disability gap; increase collaboration; drive progress on breaking down stigmas and outdated assumptions about disability; inform policy and legislative conversations; and inspire innovation across industries such as technology, healthcare and education.
Importantly, the hub is designed to make it easier for governments, development practitioners, organisations of disabled people, employers, and the general public to understand the varying intersectional barriers for individuals with disabilities based on factors such as age, gender or socioeconomic background.
Microsoft and the World Bank, in collaboration with the Disability Data Initiative at Fordham University, are expanding both access to and the use of demographics and statistics data to ensure representation of disability, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Global Disability Advisor of the World Bank, commented: “The World Bank’s partnership with Microsoft aims to bring higher visibility to the development outcomes and living conditions of persons with disabilities.
“This effort will ensure that more policymakers, development practitioners, civil society and academia use a disability lens and evidence to inform new financial investments, policy reforms and service delivery.”
Principles for the development of the hub include engaging with the disability community to inform the creation of the hub and taking a holistic approach to data collection on disabilities including collating and aggregating multiple data sources.
It will also aim to provide an accessible interface for a broad range of users, offer data analysis and accessible visualisation tools and serve as a knowledge repository by publishing trends and country profiles
Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Microsoft Chief Accessibility Officer, added: “Disability is a growing demographic, and COVID-19 has acted as a mass disabling event, growing the base of people with disabilities worldwide.
“The disability divide has been a reality for decades. This new disability data hub is a step forward in wrapping our arms around the demographics of disability in a more strategic, long-term way. Through partnership we think we can make a tangible difference.”
Microsoft recently unveiled a range of adaptive accessories for disabled people to more easily use computers and phones, which is due to launch this autumn.
They form part of an adaptive ecosystem that empowers disabled people to customise their own mouse, keyboard inputs and shortcuts in a way that works best for their individual needs.
