Shew emphasizes that technological progress is not inherently social progress. Without critical attention, AI and robotics may reinforce ableist norms under the guise of innovation. She calls for a shift in how we measure advancement — not by flashy “fixes” to disability, but by whether technologies actually reduce barriers, expand accessibility, and foster justice for disabled people and, ultimately, for everyone.

Rethinking Progress

Shew underscores that making environments and technologies accessible for people at the “extremes” of ability often improves access for everyone — for instance, curb cuts aid wheelchair users but also help parents with strollers, travelers with luggage, and injured athletes.

Arizona State University

Ashley Shew critiques how conversations about AI often reproduce ableist assumptions. Shew argues that mainstream visions of AI and robotics frequently frame disability as a problem to be solved through technological intervention, rather than recognizing disabled people as central voices in shaping technological futures. The concept of technoableism describes this tendency to privilege high-tech “fixes” and idealized notions of ability, while sidelining the lived experiences and innovations of disabled communities. Shew calls for shifting perspectives so that AI development does not reinforce narrow standards of normalcy or perpetuate exclusion, but instead includes disabled people’s expertise, values, and critiques in imagining more just technological futures.

Ableism, Technoableism, and Future AI

Universal design is a framework for creating environments that are accessible and usable for everyone, regardless of their abilities. Professionals should strive to implement universal design principles in their workspaces and activities. Office space is often minimal, and there is not much professionals can do about it. If that is the case, acknowledge the limited space with your clients to show them you care. That will go a long way.

Universal Design

A. Shew, "Ableism, Technoableism, and Future AI," in IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 40-85, March 2020, doi: 10.1109/MTS.2020.2967492. keywords: {History;Medical diagnostic imaging;Artificial intelligence;Biological system modeling},

Ableism, Technoableism, and Future AI Reference

Shew defines technoableism as the assumption that technology, particularly AI and robotics, should “fix” or eliminate disability. This framing treats disability as a deficit compared to a supposed norm, rather than as a form of human diversity. By focusing on technological cures, technoableism reinforces ableist ideals of normalcy and ignores systemic barriers that actually disable people.

Technoableism

Shew emphasizes that disabled people are often skilled innovators, developing creative adaptations and practices to navigate inaccessible environments. These lived forms of expertise rarely get acknowledged in AI and tech spaces, which tend to view disability only as a problem to be solved. By overlooking disabled ingenuity, the tech industry misses valuable insights that could lead to more inclusive and imaginative designs.

Disability as Innovation

Designing for the Margins Benefits All

Abes, Abrams, and Floyd (the authors) note that while Universal Design is a way faculty can work against academic ableism and create more accessible classes that Universal Design still relies on often non-fluid definitions of disability and assumes that disabled students would have the same predictable needs throughout the course, this is how the authors differentiate between a class that utilizes universal design and a cripped class.

Universal Design vs. Cripped Classes

One of the most powerful findings of the study was that the accessibility changes—such as clearer visuals, simplified navigation, and larger buttons—did not only help participants with fine-motor impairments. These improvements also made the app easier to use for non-disabled users, demonstrating the broader value of inclusive design. This principle, often called universal design, shows that when technology is built with marginalized users in mind, everyone benefits.

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