Assistive technology is essential for millions, offering independence and a fuller life. However, many users with disabilities are fighting for the right to control their own devices. Corporate policies and Digital Rights Management (DRM) often prevent them from making simple repairs or modifications. This battle for technological self-determination, led by activists and groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), is a critical issue that ultimately affects every technology user.
What Is Digital Rights Management and How Does It Affect Assistive Tech?
Digital Rights Management, or DRM, is a type of technology used by manufacturers to control how their products are used. It’s often intended to prevent piracy or unauthorized use, but in the world of assistive technology, it creates significant barriers.
For devices like powered wheelchairs, glucose monitors, or bionic implants, DRM can lock users out of the software that runs them. This means only the manufacturer or an authorized technician can perform repairs, updates, or even simple adjustments.
This system effectively removes ownership from the user, turning a device they depend on for daily life into something they can’t fully control. When a simple fix is needed, users are left at the mercy of the company’s schedule and pricing, which can lead to long, frustrating, and sometimes dangerous delays.
The Real-World Impact on Powered Wheelchair Users
Powered wheelchairs are a perfect example of how DRM can harm users. These chairs are vital for mobility, yet many are controlled by corporate monopolies that use software locks to prevent independent repairs.
Imagine the tires on your wheelchair need a pressure adjustment. This might slightly alter the calibration of the wheels, a fix that should be straightforward. However, due to DRM, this simple recalibration might be locked in the software, forcing a service call. This can trap users in their homes for days or even weeks, waiting for a technician to perform a five-minute task.
In response, Colorado passed a landmark Right to Repair law in 2022 specifically for powered wheelchairs. This law gives users and independent shops access to the necessary parts, tools, and manuals. Similar efforts are now being considered in other states and at the federal level, but progress is slow for those who need help now.
Beyond Repairs: When Customization Becomes Illegal
The problem with DRM goes far beyond just repairs; it also stifles everyday use and customization. Many people with disabilities are incredibly innovative, finding unique ways to adapt technology to their specific needs. Unfortunately, DRM can make these helpful modifications illegal.
A key example is Encrypted Media Extensions (EME), which is used to protect streaming video content. While EME includes some basic accessibility features, it prevents users from adding their own, more tailored solutions.
- Users with color blindness cannot implement advanced color adjustments.
- It is not possible to modify or disable screen flashes that could trigger seizures.
- Adding specialized captions or audio descriptions to a video stream is legally risky.
This situation highlights a major flaw in the system. Tech companies are not required to meet every unique accessibility need, yet DRM prevents users from solving these problems themselves. The disability rights slogan, “Nothing about us without us,” underscores the need for users to have a voice and a role in the design of the technology they rely on.
The Growing Concern of Implanted and ‘Orphaned’ Technology
As technology advances, assistive devices are moving from external gadgets to internal implants. This raises the stakes of the DRM debate significantly. Medical implants like insulin pumps, glucose monitors, and even bionic eyes often come with the same restrictive software.
Manufacturers sometimes use this to lock patients into their ecosystem, preventing them from switching to a competitor’s product. Worse, if a company goes out of business, its products can become “orphaned tech.” DRM can block third-party developers from providing crucial updates or repairs, leaving the user with a non-functional, implanted device.
Imagine having a bionic eye that stops working because the manufacturer is no longer around. The law currently offers little protection, leaving the user with a life-altering problem that isn’t just an inconvenience but a fundamental loss of function.
Why Assistive Tech Rights Matter for Everyone
The fight for control over assistive technology is not just a niche issue; it is about a principle that affects all of us: technological self-determination. The choices we have over the devices we own, whether a smartphone or a wheelchair, are being limited by corporate control.
The “curb-cut effect” is a great analogy. Curb ramps were designed for wheelchair users, but they also benefit parents with strollers, delivery drivers with carts, and travelers with luggage. In the same way, winning the right to repair and modify assistive technology would set a precedent that benefits everyone.
| Feature | DRM-Locked Device | Open-Access Device |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs | Requires authorized technician, long waits, high costs. | User or independent shop can repair, quick and affordable. |
| Customization | Limited to manufacturer-approved features, no user mods. | Users can add features, adapt software, and innovate. |
| Longevity | Becomes useless if the manufacturer ends support (“orphaned”). | Community and third parties can continue support indefinitely. |
As our world becomes more integrated with technology, questions about ownership and control are universal. Pushing for open-source platforms and repair-friendly designs creates a more inclusive and empowering technological future for all.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Right to Repair for assistive technology?
The Right to Repair for assistive technology is a movement and legislative effort aimed at giving users and independent repair shops the legal right to access the parts, tools, and information needed to fix and modify devices like powered wheelchairs and medical implants.
How does DRM specifically harm users with disabilities?
DRM harms users with disabilities by preventing them from making necessary repairs, leading to a loss of mobility and independence. It also blocks them from customizing their devices to better suit their unique needs, such as adding specialized accessibility features.
Are there any laws that protect my right to repair my wheelchair?
Yes, some progress has been made. In 2022, Colorado became the first state to pass a Right to Repair law specifically for powered wheelchairs, and similar legislation is being considered in other states and at the federal level.
Why is this issue important even for people who don’t use assistive tech?
This issue is important for everyone because it centers on the fundamental right to own and control the technology you buy. The precedents set in the fight for assistive tech rights will influence the future of repair and modification for all consumer electronics, from smartphones to cars.
