Community-Driven Research

A research approach where the community being studied plays a central role in defining research questions, designing methodologies, collecting data, and interpreting results. In accessibility, community-driven research ensures that disabled communities — particularly those in marginalized or underrepresented contexts — have agency in shaping the technologies and policies that affect them, rather than being passive subjects of research conducted by external experts. This approach helps ensure that solutions are culturally appropriate, sustainable, and aligned with actual community needs.