Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and assistive technology are opening new possibilities for people with disabilities in Europe, but technical limitations, high costs and gaps in accessible public services continue to restrict their benefits.
Discussions at two accessibility events in Warsaw last month highlighted how public funding, user involvement and inclusive design can help translate technological progress into greater independence in daily life. Innovations for disabled people illustrated both the potential of these tools and the barriers to wider adoption.
TECHNICAL PROGRESS, PRACTICAL LIMITS
At Accessibility Expo, Romanian company .lumen demonstrated a headset designed to help blind people navigate by identifying a way forward and conveying directions through vibrations on the forehead.
Company representative Doru Tudor said cameras and onboard computing analyze the surroundings, allowing the device to indicate where users can move. He compared its guidance to the directional cues provided by a guide dog.
However, affordability remains a barrier to wider adoption. Tudor said the device is expensive and users often need government support to purchase it.
He said the company has sold several hundred devices in Romania through a national subsidy program, illustrating the role of public funding in bringing advanced assistive technology within reach.
While the headset interprets the space around its wearer, Warsaw’s NawiGo app helps users find destinations within equipped public facilities, addressing another part of independent travel.
Anna Koperska, an organizer of the Warsaw Vision conference, said the app connects with low-energy Bluetooth beacons to give directions inside metro stations and public buildings.
Positioning accuracy remains a challenge. An uncertainty of more than a meter can be significant for a person using a white cane, she said.
“It’s not a perfect solution, but still can help,” Koperska said.
The project is considering combining different technologies, including beacons and QR codes, to improve performance. Blind and partially sighted users are testing the app and providing feedback.
These limitations highlight the gap between providing navigation information and making it sufficiently precise for independent use. Users’ experience helps establish which improvements are needed to make the system more dependable in daily travel.
For NawiGo, the financial challenge lies partly in extending coverage. Although the app is free to download, its use depends on navigation infrastructure in public facilities. Koperska said expansion beyond the current area would depend on local funding decisions.
PUBLIC SUPPORT, UNEVEN ACCESS
Poland is seeking to address accessibility through both regulation and technological development. Its legislation implementing the European Accessibility Act took effect on June 28, 2025, covering specified products and services, including computers, smartphones, payment terminals, consumer banking and e-commerce.
The country is also developing an AI-based virtual assistant to help developers implement digital accessibility, according to the Ministry of Digital Affairs. The project seeks to support the creation of accessible digital services, complementing technologies that assist individual users.
The measures aim to make everyday services easier to use, but their practical impact will depend on effective implementation and sustained investment. For blind people, the cost of assistive devices and barriers in public spaces and digital services can still limit independent access.
The challenges extend beyond Poland. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 2.5 billion people worldwide need one or more assistive products, including those supporting vision, hearing and mobility.
High costs, insufficient funding and workforce capacity gaps remain barriers to access, the organization says.
Elsewhere in Europe, public programs help people obtain equipment and the support needed to use it.
In Britain, the government’s Access to Work scheme can fund specialist equipment, assistive software and support workers for eligible people with disabilities or health conditions.
Assistance can also cover travel to work when public transport cannot be used, linking technological support with practical help to enter or remain in employment.
In France, the disability compensation benefit, known as PCH, can help eligible people purchase or rent assistive equipment, according to government guidance.
It also provides for human assistance, including a specific allowance for people meeting its blindness criteria, combining support for equipment with help in daily life.
However, these programs have defined eligibility rules and limits. Britain’s scheme is tied to employment, while French equipment support is subject to reimbursement rates and ceilings.
WHO notes that even in high-income countries, assistive products may be rationed or excluded from health and welfare schemes, leaving users and their families with substantial expenses.
It also identifies gaps in training and follow-up services that help people use equipment safely and ensure it remains suitable and works properly. Closing these gaps requires investment in both assistive products and the services that support their use.
“We call on all countries to fund and prioritize access to assistive technology and give everyone a chance to live up to their potential,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. ■