How AI is expanding access and equity for people with disabilities

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OPINION – For millions of Californians living with disabilities, the promise of independence has too often been undermined by high costs, limited resources, and outdated support systems. From barriers in communication to everyday mobility, the lack of affordable, long-term solutions has left many families struggling to secure the care and tools they need to thrive.

Artificial intelligence is beginning to change that. Today, nearly four million Californians with physical or cognitive disabilities are seeing how AI can expand access, increase equity, and improve quality of life. While no single technology can meet every need, AI offers a powerful platform for progress. Across the state, developers, advocates, and policymakers must work together to ensure innovation is built with inclusivity at its core.

When designed with accessibility in mind, AI becomes a powerful equalizer. From supporting mobility to aiding communication, these tools afford greater independence and dignity for people living with disabilities. Voice-recognition technology, for instance, was first developed to help disabled individuals and has since evolved into everyday assistants like Siri and Alexa. The same trajectory is underway today: innovations initially built for accessibility are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for disabled communities, and eventually, they will become technologies we all rely on.

Technology must begin with the consumer’s experience. For AI, that means centering the needs of the one in four Americans who will develop a disability at some point in their lives. When accessibility drives design, the benefits ripple outward– creating smarter, more intuitive tools that serve everyone, regardless of ability.

But without intentional investment and smart, forward-thinking policy, the promise of AI will be unevenly distributed. Nationwide, essential disability services are already underdeveloped, underfunded, or nonexistent.

In California, rising healthcare and housing costs, combined with persistent employment barriers, widen the gap between disabled and nondisabled residents. In rural and low-income communities, these structural disadvantages are even starker, leaving thousands without the resources they need to participate fully in civic, economic, and social life.

These barriers can be broken down. Until they are, however, they will continue to limit children from fully participating in school, parents from earning sustainable wages, and adults from living independently– imposing heavy, long-term costs on people with disabilities and their families.

California’s innovation economy is already pointing the way forward. Startups across the state are embedding accessibility into the core of AI product design. In San Diego, healthcare providers are using machine learning to track patient progress, automate appointment reminders, and personalize care plans. Further, our own Center for Independent Living in Berkeley is piloting similar tools that help people build their own independent living plans and receive the support they need to stay in their homes, rather than institutions.

Advances in diagnostic testing are also helping families prepare earlier and more effectively. AI-driven tools now detect early signs of developmental or intellectual disabilities, enabling parents and care teams to anticipate needs and build stronger support networks. In the home, new applications like tactile-feedback wearables to captioning software to AI-powered assistants are revolutionizing how disabled individuals manage daily tasks. These technologies provide greater independence and more control over how people live their lives.

The landscape of independent living is shifting at record speeds. Tools that transfer human agency to the individual and support truly self-directed care were once out of reach and are now possible. Recognizing these resources and connecting families with independent living centers and service providers will be critical to ensure that innovation translates into real opportunity.

As policymakers debate healthcare cuts, and how best to deliver integrated, person-centered care, California has an opening to lead. AI-powered accessibility tools do more than improve quality of life; they expand access to supportive care, education, employment, and community resources. Ensuring these tools are embraced and not restricted by shortsighted policy will unlock opportunity for millions of Californians and serve as a model for the nation.

The state now has the chance to extend that leadership into the AI era by supporting innovations that make care systems more sustainable while centering user autonomy and dignity. The opportunity before us is not simply to adopt new technologies, but to reimagine systems of care. When developed and deployed responsibly, AI can set a new national standard of championing accessibility, advancing equity, and affirming the right of every person to live, work, and participate fully in their community. Our leaders must support the innovative ecosystem that has enabled these life-changing advancements.

Dr. Victor Santiago Pineda is a disability rights advocate, urban planner, and distinguished scholar at the Center for Independent Living (CIL) in Berkeley.