HiNZ 2025: Debbie Hughes - Chief Executive Officer, New Zealand Disability Support Network

Why It Matters

Embedding disability insights into AI development drives universal design, reducing exclusion and unlocking market potential for tech firms.

Key Takeaways

• Co‑design with disabled users yields universally usable technology
• AI bias often stems from homogeneous development teams
• Inclusive design reduces long‑term compliance costs
• Digital health tools must address neurodiverse needs
• Stakeholder workshops accelerate accessibility adoption

Pulse Analysis

The push for inclusive artificial intelligence is gaining momentum as leaders like Debbie Hughes spotlight the tangible benefits of co‑design. When developers involve disabled individuals from the outset, they uncover edge cases that mainstream testing overlooks, leading to products that function seamlessly for a broader audience. This approach not only mitigates ethical concerns around algorithmic bias but also aligns with emerging regulatory frameworks that mandate accessibility standards across digital health platforms.

From a business perspective, integrating disability expertise early in the product lifecycle can translate into measurable cost savings. Traditional retrofitting of accessibility features often incurs higher engineering hours and delays market launch. By contrast, co‑design workshops and user‑testing panels built around diverse abilities streamline requirement gathering, shorten development cycles, and enhance brand reputation among socially conscious consumers. Companies that champion universal design also position themselves favorably for public sector contracts, where compliance with accessibility legislation is a prerequisite.

Practically, organisations can adopt a structured co‑design framework: recruit a representative panel of disabled users, map their journey across the intended solution, and iterate prototypes based on real‑world feedback. Embedding accessibility checkpoints into agile sprints ensures continuous alignment with inclusive goals. Moreover, leveraging assistive technologies—such as screen readers, voice control, and customizable interfaces—during testing can reveal hidden friction points. As the digital health ecosystem expands, these proactive steps will help firms deliver equitable, high‑impact solutions that serve every member of the community.

Original Description

“If we get it right for disabled people, we're going to get it right for everyone else.” ♿️✨

Debbie Hughes, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Disability Support Network, sat down with Rebecca McBeth during Digital Health Week 2025, to discuss the importance of including disabled people in the design and development of AI and technology. Debbie shares valuable insights into the current state of disability support, technology’s role in empowering disabled people, and why co-design is essential.

How can true co-design with disabled people reshape technology for all? What does it mean to “remember to remember” everyone in our communities, from neurodiverse individuals to those with physical or intellectual disabilities? And what practical steps can organisations take to ensure digital solutions serve every user, not just the majority?

Catch this conversation and many others recorded during Digital Health Week in Christchurch, hosted by Health Informatics New Zealand (HiNZ) in a special playlist available here on YouTube under our channel. as well as the Talking HealthTech Podcast on your favourite platform.

#digitalhealth #healthtech #inclusion #accessibility