Global South

A term referring broadly to countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania that have been historically marginalized in global economic and political systems. In accessibility research, the Global South is significantly underrepresented — most studies recruit participants from Western, English-speaking countries, producing findings that may not generalize to the majority of the world's disabled population. Addressing this bias requires actively inviting researchers and participants from non-Western contexts, recognizing different cultural understandings of disability, and supporting research infrastructure in underrepresented regions.