Empowering Inclusive Communication: Using AI Assistive Technologies to Help Visually Impaired Communicate Better

While life itself is tough, people with disability have it tougher. Over time different euphemisms have
been invented to brighten people with disabilities mood. Crippled was dropped in favour of disabled
which at some point sounded too negative and was dropped in favour of handicapped, which in
some arenas is giving way to physically challenged, which currently, is largely dropped in favour
of differently abled. However, no matter how beautiful the intentions behind these euphemisms are,
they cannot lessen or clean up the reality of their disabilities. In Nigeria, people with disabilities face
significant barriers to effective communication, which have impeded their full participation in social,
educational and professional activities. This research therefore concerns itself with providing answer to
how AI technology can be assistive to people with visual disability in Nigeria to communicate better. The
objectives of the study were to evaluate the exposure of people with visual impairment to AI assistive
technologies, their usability and effectiveness. This study adopted a mixed method research using Focus
Group Discussion and Quasi-Experiment. The study found out that the respondents have low exposure
to AI assistive technologies that can help them communicate better. The study also found out through
the quasi-experiment that the usability of AI assistive technologies is high. Lastly, the study found out
that AI assistive technologies are effective in helping people with visual disability communicate better.
The study recommended that the government and stake holders should invest resources and time into
exposing and training individuals with visual disability how to communicate better with the use of AI
assistive technologies.