Week 7 Reflection

Sheikh 1 Irma Sheikh DHD 411 Dr. van Huemen October 12, 2025 Week 7 Reflection: Your Path to Ethical Practice This week, the ethical concern that resonated with me most is technoableism, which is the way technology is designed with assumptions about “normal” bodies and minds, and that leads to marginalizing people with disabilities because it doesn’t include what they themselves actually want. Reading Shew (2025) made me realize how often technologies marketed as “innovative” or “life-changing” are actually shaped by ableist assumptions, rather than the lived experiences of disabled people. This struck me because I’ve seen technologies that are supposed to help disabled people but they fail to completely meet the needs of those people who use them most. This reminded me that the user’s voice should be at the center because they are the ones who are going to use it. Ethics in design means listening to and prioritizing the people who will actually use the technology. Googin’s (2017) discussion of digital inequality expanded my understanding further. Even when technology is accessible in theory, disabled users often face barriers because the technology’s design does not actually include them. I found it striking that disabled people have been at the forefront of mobile and digital innovation, yet systemic inequities prevent many from benefiting equally. This shows that inclusion isn’t just about adding features, it’s about including their perspectives and addressing broader social and economic barriers related to them from the start. Sheikh 2 Reflecting on these readings connects directly to my future goals in the medical field. I want to approach technology and policy with a user-centered mindset by making sure disabled voices are actively involved. I also see the importance of advocating for design justice, meaning that accessibility and inclusion must be considered in every stage of development, from research to production and clinical application. Ethical practice in disability technology is about more than solving technical problems, it is actually about questioning systemic assumptions, empowering every user, and having equity in both design and access to care.