Unmet assistive technology needs among working-age adults with disabilities in India: findings from longitudinal ageing study in India (LASI) wave 1

Despite policy advances, access to assistive technology (AT) in India remains critically inadequate, particularly for working-age adults with disabilities.
Using nationally representative data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave 1, we analysed data from 2,743 individuals aged 18–59 years who reported at least one functional impairment to estimate the prevalence and distribution of unmet AT needs. Unmet need was defined as functional impairment without use of a corresponding assistive product; this proxy reflects potential rather than expressed need and may not capture individual preferences or contextual factors influencing utilisation.
Overall, 60.1% had unmet AT needs, with higher prevalence among rural residents (69.6%), younger adults aged 18–44 years (72.2%), and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups (73.3%). Although descriptive analysis showed higher unmet need among women, multivariable regression indicated significantly higher adjusted odds among men after adjusting for socioeconomic factors. Unmet need was extremely high for hearing and speech impairments (97.1% each) and remained substantial even among employed individuals (58.2%). Vision impairments had comparatively lower unmet need, likely due to better availability of spectacles.
Disparities were evident across age, gender, residence, education, wealth, and caste. Gender disparities in assistive technology access arise from financial, caregiving, and mobility barriers, emphasising the need for gender-responsive policies to ensure equity. These findings highlight persistent gaps in AT provision and the need for equity-focused strategies to advance disability-inclusive development and economic participation.
This study highlights that rehabilitation systems must incorporate routine screening and early identification of assistive technology (AT) needs among working-age adults, particularly younger, rural, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. Services should prioritise hearing, speech, and mobility impairments where unmet need is greatest. Gender-responsive and employment-linked rehabilitation approaches are essential to translate AT access into sustained workforce participation. Decentralised, subsidised delivery models are critical to reduce rural and economic inequities in AT access.

尽管政策层面已有进展，但印度的辅助技术（assistive technology, AT）获取渠道仍严重不足，针对劳动年龄残疾成年人的情况尤为突出。

本研究依托印度纵向老龄化研究（Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, LASI）第一波次的全国代表性数据，对2743名年龄在18~59岁、报告存在至少一项功能障碍的个体数据展开分析，以估算未满足辅助技术需求的患病率与分布特征。未满足需求被定义为存在功能障碍却未使用对应的辅助器具；该代理指标反映的是潜在需求而非显性需求，可能无法涵盖影响器具使用的个体偏好或情境因素。

总体而言，60.1%的群体存在未满足的辅助技术需求，其中农村居民（69.6%）、18~44岁年轻成年人（72.2%）以及社会经济弱势群体（73.3%）的患病率更高。尽管描述性分析显示女性群体的未满足需求更高，但多变量回归结果表明，在控制社会经济因素后，男性的校正后优势比显著更高。听力与言语障碍群体的未满足需求极高（均为97.1%），即便在就业群体中也仍有58.2%的未满足需求。相比之下，视力障碍群体的未满足需求较低，这可能得益于眼镜的可及性更佳。

不同年龄、性别、居住地区、教育水平、财富状况以及种姓群体间均存在显著差距。辅助技术获取方面的性别差距源于经济、照护与行动障碍，这凸显了制定性别敏感型政策以保障公平的必要性。本研究结果凸显了辅助技术供给领域持续存在的缺口，以及需要推行以公平为导向的策略，以推进残疾包容型发展与经济参与。

本研究强调，康复体系应当将常规筛查与早期识别劳动年龄成年人的辅助技术需求纳入工作范畴，尤其针对年轻群体、农村居民以及社会经济弱势群体。服务应当优先覆盖未满足需求最高的听力、言语与行动障碍群体。采用性别敏感型且与就业挂钩的康复方法，对于将辅助技术获取转化为持续的劳动力参与至关重要。采用分散化、补贴式的供给模式，对于降低辅助技术获取方面的农村与经济不平等至关重要。