🎙️ Remarkable World Commentary Episode #55: Unaffordable Access Technology | Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA https://donnajodhan.com/rwc-10-01-2025-B/

In this timely episode of Remarkable World Commentary, Donna J. Jodhan zeroes in on the persistent problem of unaffordable access technology. She explains how high prices keep essential tools out of reach for the very people who need them most, including seniors and those who feel technically shy, which in turn shuts them out of everyday online activities such as banking, travel, and shopping.

Donna challenges developers, designers, companies, and manufacturers to change both pricing and attitudes. She questions the idea that the market is too small to serve, points to rapidly growing consumer segments, and reminds listeners that accessible tech benefits millions well beyond the disability community. Her call to action is clear and urgent: make access technology more affordable and more available so no one is left behind.

TRANSCRIPT

Podcast Commentator: Greetings. Donna J Jodhan, LLB, ACSP and MBA, invites you to listen to her biweekly podcast, Remarkable World Commentary. Here, Donna shares some of her innermost thoughts, insights, perspectives, and more with her listeners. Donna focuses on topics that directly affect the future of kids, especially kids with disabilities. Donna is a blind advocate, author, site loss coach, dinner mystery producer, writer, entrepreneur, law graduate, and podcast commentator. She has decades of lived experiences, knowledge, skills, and expertise in access technology and information. As someone who has been internationally recognized for her work and roles. She just wants to make things better than possible.

Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Hello there! My name is Donna and welcome to the second week of my October biweekly remarkable bi weekly commentary. And I want for today to address the topic of unaffordable access technology. So what is unaffordable access technology all about? Okay. This is something that has perpetuated over the years, and it does not seem to be getting any better. It is a chronic challenge slash problem for many of us who cannot afford to have the best and greatest technology under our fingers. And especially when it comes to access technology. It continues to be out of the reach of those who really, really need it. And it affects different groups in different ways in that if we cannot have the best and greatest access technology, it means that we are being left behind when it comes to engaging and communicating online. No matter which industry it is, it could be the banking industry, the travel industry. It could be, you know, doing your shopping, anything like that. That's what it is all about. Okay. So. It's unaffordable to so many. And this obviously leads to falling behind when it comes to groups such as seniors, those who are technically shy, those who simply cannot afford to purchase access technology to help them out. Okay. And. Developers, designers and companies continue to price their products beyond the reach of the pockets of. Those customers I just talked about, it's beyond their reach because they cannot afford it. And especially so for access technology. You know, you have a lot of people who depend on screen readers, for example, who depend on technology that enlarges their screens, who depend on technology for different reasons.

Donna J. Jodhan, LLB, ACSP, MBA: Access technology is unaffordable, and we need to find ways to bring down the prices of these pieces of technology. We need to convince society as a whole that access technology benefits so many people, millions of people worldwide, not just seniors, not just the technology, not just persons with disabilities. It benefits many, many others. And this is what I think we're missing out on. Now. Is it because developers and manufacturers and others believe that it's a very small market? Is this why they do not put much effort into making sure that access technology is made available in an affordable manner to others? What is it? So we need to start working on developers, designers and companies and manufacturers to get them to buy into a truthful fact that access technology is unaffordable because of their present barriers and attitudes. But access technology can be beneficial to many, many people. In addition to seniors, the technically shy persons with disabilities. And let me just say that the markets, the consumer markets for seniors and for persons with disabilities is growing rapidly. So we need to step in and start pushing developers, designers, companies and manufacturers to find ways to make access technology more affordable and more available. Okay. I'm Donna Jodhan, wishing you a great rest of the day, a great rest of the week, and a great rest of the month. Please contact me at Donna Jodhan at gmail.com. And that's about d o n j o d h a n. It's Donna Jodhan at gmail.com. Take care now and we'll see you the next time. Bye for now.

Podcast Commentator: Donna wants to hear from you and invites you to write to her at [email protected]. Until next time.