CDT Report - To Reduce Disability Bias in Technology, Start With Disability Data

About This Project

Summary

On the 34th anniversary of the passage of the ADA, CDT’s Disability Rights in Tech Policy Project published a report examining how building less discriminatory algorithmic tools & AI systems require more inclusive datasets – and unpacking factors that cause poor collection of representative data. The authors, disability rights & tech policy experts, lay out the importance of respectful privacy practices & inclusive methods for defining/collecting data using a “disability data justice” approach.

Goals & Objectives

AI & algorithmic tools pose unique risks to people w/ disabilities. This report (+ plain language report) focuses on importance of centering disabled people in tech creation + policy-making, moving beyond identifying problems to also provide guidelines for developers on how to build better systems.

Results & Impact

Our work illustrates that a strategy that incorporates civil society, disability advocates, and industry leaders can provide solutions to AI harms. The findings were featured by leading outlets and have informed future work at the intersection of disability rights and tech policy.