Disability rights advocates, media professionals, and fact checkers have called for greater accessibility in fact-checking tools and election information to ensure persons with disabilities (PWDs) are not excluded from democratic participation.
The call was made during the maiden edition of PWD Spotlight’s X Space, themed “Election Misinformation & Disability: Protecting the Votes of Persons with Disabilities,” held on August 1, 2026.
The discussion featured FactCheckAfrica researcher Oluwaseye Ogunsanya, Purple Abilities Initiative Executive Director Oluwatomisin Adeyefa, and journalist and disability advocate Kofoworola Komolafe, who examined how misinformation disproportionately affects persons with disabilities and explored ways to improve access to verified election information.
Accessibility Must Be Intentional
Speakers stressed that election information should be provided in accessible formats such as sign language, captions, audio and easy-to-read materials, rather than treating disability inclusion as an afterthought.
Komolafe shared her experience of facing challenges locating her polling unit and receiving poor treatment from an election official, saying such barriers discourage persons with disabilities from participating in elections.
Collaboration and Implementation
Ogunsanya said stronger collaboration between governments, election management bodies and disability organisations would improve access to credible election information.
“Whenever government is making decisions, representatives of persons with disabilities should be included so their interests are considered,” he said.
He noted that while INEC’s Framework on Access and Participation of Persons with Disabilities already guarantees accessible election materials and voting support, implementation remains the major challenge.
Fact-Checking Tools Need Improvement
Adeyefa said accessibility should go beyond Braille, noting that disability communities have different communication needs.
“Making information available means providing it in diverse formats because not every blind person reads Braille,” she said.
Ogunsanya also acknowledged that many existing fact-checking tools are not fully accessible to persons with disabilities, urging media organisations and technology developers to design inclusive verification tools.
The discussion ended with participants agreeing that protecting electoral integrity requires ensuring that persons with disabilities can access, verify and trust election information.
The X Space was the first in a planned series of disability-focused conversations under FactCheckAfrica’s #CheckBeforeYouPost campaign, which promotes digital literacy, responsible online behaviour and inclusive access to verified information.
