More people are turning to quantified health, achievement, and ability measures through fitness apps and economic measures of well-being. This trend often medicalizes human health by describing individuals in terms of statistics and data, which can sometimes overlook critical details. Notably, this quantified approach falls short in addressing the needs and rights of disabled individuals, as evidenced by lawsuits and case studies involving algorithmic decision-making about disability benefits.
Discussing algorithmic decision-making and quantification in disability benefits in the United States and India are Vandana Chaudhry, Associate Professor in the Department of Social Work and Disability Studies at the City University of New York who focuses on disability and digital justice in the Global South, and Lydia X.Z. Brown, an activist for disability justice, Director of Public Policy at the National Disability Institute, and CDT’s former policy counsel.
The conversation is part of CDT’s podcast “CDT’s Tech Talks,” hosted by Jamal Magby. The podcast is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, Spotify, Stitcher, and TuneIn.
(CDT relies on donor support. If you enjoyed this episode of Tech Talk, you can support it at cdt.org/techtalk.)
