Inclusive education in South Africa is no longer just policy, it’s practice. And in 2026, assistive technology (AT) is becoming one of the most powerful tools helping learners with disabilities access education with dignity and independence. From under-resourced public schools to private learning environments, technology is reshaping what participation looks like. For special needs educators, keeping up with these developments...

South Africa is launching four locally developed assistive technologies—created by and for people with disabilities—to improve access, agency, and dignity across the country. The innovations include a wearable smartphone interface (Ka‑dah) for visually impaired users, an app that translates written content into South African Sign Language (WeSignIt), a video interpreting service for deaf users (Virecom), and an audio description tool...

Retina South Africa invites you to help shape the future of assistive technologies across Africa. On 12 June 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) is hosting an online stakeholder session focused on updating its Priority Assistive Products List (APL)—a vital guide that recommends essential assistive devices, such as hearing aids, wheelchairs, and communication tools, for governments to prioritize. By Retina...

A Melbourne university student is making it easier for people with disabilities to find accessible places to eat with the launch of a new app called enAccess Maps. By Mimi Becker – 9NEWS Developed by Alex Uccello, who lives with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair, the app aims to reduce the everyday challenges faced by people with mobility...

Romanian startup .lumen is transforming mobility for the visually impaired with innovative glasses that combine self-driving technology and haptic guidance to replicate the essential functions of a guide dog. Bojan Stojkovski - Interesting Engineering omanian startup .lumen is revolutionizing mobility for the visually impaired with its cutting-edge glasses that integrate self-driving technology to mimic the core functions of a guide...

A new prosthetic hand powered by breathing has been developed for children and teenagers. The BBC News Oxford Researchers at the University of Oxford say the new air-powered hand is "lightweight, low maintenance and easy to use". The device uses breathing to power a small purpose-built Tesla turbine and controls prosthetic finger movements. The findings have been published in the...