Beyond Tech Fixes

This book offers a bold and critical examination of the intersections between artificial intelligence (AI) and disability justice. Rather than framing AI as a neutral or purely beneficial tool, the book interrogates how AI systems reproduce ableism, deepen systemic exclusions, and perpetuate colonial, neoliberal, and corporate power structures. It challenges the prevailing reliance on "tech fixes"—improving datasets or tweaking algorithms—and instead insists on addressing the deeper social, political, and ethical dimensions of AI development and deployment. Through a disability justice lens, it highlights the complex realities faced by disabled communities and emphasizes the need for approaches that dismantle ableism rather than superficially enhance accessibility. Covering topics such as algorithmic bias, data colonialism, technoableism, and the militarization of AI, this book foregrounds critical frameworks including design justice, data sovereignty, and participatory governance. It draws on diverse scholarly perspectives and activist insights to propose actionable pathways toward more accountable, equitable, and inclusive AI futures. By centering disabled people’s experiences and knowledge, the book offers not only critique but also visionary strategies for transforming AI systems to serve justice rather than entrench oppression.