YOUTH-LED INNOVATIONS IN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN DISABILITY SERVICES IN KERALA

Abstract

This study explores the evolving role of youth in advancing assistive technology innovations within Kerala’s disability services, focusing on how local governance frameworks enable and sustain their participation. Employing qualitative research methods including semi-structured interviews, field observations, and case analyses, the study examines youth-led initiatives in designing, distributing, and advocating assistive solutions. Findings reveal that Kerala’s decentralized governance model, anchored in Panchayati Raj institutions and supported by entities such as the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) and the Social Justice Department, nurtures youth engagement and co-creation of inclusive technologies. Programs like the Innovation by Youth with Disabilities (I-YwD) initiative and university-based maker spaces serve as catalysts for empowering youth and persons with disabilities through participatory innovation. The study highlights both opportunities and constraints facing young innovators, including limited financial support, skill gaps, and institutional fragmentation. It concludes that the synergy between youth agency and local governance can foster an inclusive innovation ecosystem that transforms disability services, enhances accessibility, and reinforces participatory governance in Kerala. Policy recommendations are provided to strengthen institutional linkages, youth capacity building, and local innovation networks aimed at sustainable social inclusion.