Report
Towards More Inclusive Platform Livelihoods
Reflections on Two Studies of Young Kenyan Platform Workers and Sellers Living with Disabilities
Authors inABLE, Technoprise Global
With the support of
In partnership with
In partnership with
This reflections essay summarizes the main findings from studies by inABLE, Technoprise Global, and Story × Design. inABLE and Technoprise Global, expert advocacy organizations for inclusive technology in Kenya, focused on the experiences and challenges of young people with disabilities in Kenya. Their multi-part study included a survey of participants with three types of disabilities: visual, hearing, and physical impairments. Qualitative research followed with a sub-selection of participants. Finally, UX testing and digital accessibility assessment of three popular digital platforms in Kenya were completed. The research teams then worked with Story × Design, who trained and supported six research participants to develop their own self-shot video stories.
This essay connects the findings from these projects to the broader trend of platform livelihoods, addressing implications both specifically for young people with disabilities in Kenya, and for the shift to platform livelihoods more broadly. Finally, the essay suggests next steps for research on how young people living with disabilities can prosper in the platform economy. These new studies and accompanying videos are exploratory, stark and sorely needed to fill a gap and light a path for future research.
Contributors Dr. Jonathan Donner, Hélène Smertnik
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This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. 
