Why is Assistive Technology so Expensive?!

[@lyfeasicit]

Can’t think of a good enough reason 😅 but yes it’s insane. I was contemplating on purchasing an orcam and was thankful to see they had an installment plan. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 🙇🏻‍♀️ Unfortunately, we are at their mercy 😫

[@carrieonaccessibility]

We definitely are. It's sad, but it's true. Hopefully, one day it can be improved!

[@CookieGoofy]

Ugh. I just had my magnifier break on me!! I feel like the batteries in a lot of them don't last as long as i should, but I was mad a 1,400 device lasted only a year. But luckily it was just a loaner from the resource center, so no money out of my pocket. That's probably the reason they're so expensive too, because a lot of them can be loaned for free or paid for by programs like voc rehab.

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Awwww. That's really tough when you're really relying on a magnifier. I'm really glad that you can get another one through the resource center. I do agree that a big reason why things are so expensive is because of all these programs and the government paying. But if they didn't, we wouldn't have access. Unels the companies actually cut the prices down.

[@kemia3492]

honestly I think the reason behind this stuff being so expensive is because the components that they use for it (glass for example) cost a lot. That goes for the hardware also!

[@carrieonaccessibility]

I think there's a lot of reasons. It's definitely a very nuanced topic....

[@juliogomez7176]

Carrie! Hi! I’m watching your videos from H Town: Houston Texas. Julio Gomez is my name, and I’m in love with your channel! Please keep it coming.

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Awww. Thank you so much! I'm glad that you are enjoying and am excited about a lot of new things coming up! :)

[@truckywuckyuwu]

Several reasons. Low demand, so it's a specialty product. It's not mass produced. That honestly is a huge part of it. But also, It's expensive because they make many prototypes of these things, it takes a lot to design a really good product like this. It's also high because of insurance. A lot of people get their insurance to pay for it. Insurance can afford to pay 10,000$ for something like this.

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Most technology will have many different iterations and many many different prototypes. I think there's More to the story than just apply and demand :).

[@larrytestut4655]

I agree with you. I don’t know why stuff is so expensive, especially for those of us who need it the most you would think that being blind or visually impaired would give us a discount at least on items like that.

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Yes... very true. I agree... I hope it will change in the future.

[@larrytestut4655]

@@carrieonaccessibility yeah hopefully they were home

[@joshuahoare1952]

This same question has me researching hard myself to come up with a more cost effective solution. I believe supply and demand may actually be the answer. The supply is artificially created, this is too meet the demand. Not the other way around. You could in theory say its a supply and demand issue where humans themselves are the supply, and the demand is insurers. Finding a way to have support in providing cost effective solutions will definitely be difficult. What we need is more integrity not smart people. If the tech existed, exists and or has a means of continuing to exist. Then it should be available to all no matter the size of your wallet.

[@joshuahoare1952]

And if you read this, im sorry i broke the rules to your request. 😅 but some rules are meant to be broken. Re: Supply vs Demand

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Haha. Yes, you broke the rules, but setting rules just asks for people to break them i guess. I believe supply and demand is only one factor. It's just one element to the larger problem... one of which is that we are not the actual target market....

[@peterspitz2385]

I am going to be cynical and go out on a limb and say that it might "price fixing." What that means is that companies selling similar products are getting together and agreeing among themselves to not sell below a certain price. This eliminates competition, and keeps the prices artificially high. I can't prove this, of couyrse, and it might not even be true. But it sure is interesting that all of the assistive technology that does roughly the same thing is similarly priced. If somebody from an assistive tech company wants to come on here and prove me wrong, great.

[@carrieonaccessibility]

You have a great point, Peter. I'm not sure either and I don't think either of us could prove it, but it is definitely worth thinking about.

[@tonysignorelli6767]

I am going to disagree with you. Although my insurance paid for all but $800.00 of my power wheelchair they pay for literally nothing else mobility related. There is zero assistance for mobility equipped vehicles. New, they range from $40,000.00 to $150,000.00 depending on your needs. You can buy a used one for as little as $20,000.00 but it will have well over 100,000 miles and will need major repairs right away. Check with a contractor on the cost of lowering kitchen counters and cooktops. It is even more if you require adjustable height surfaces because you aren't the only person using those counters. I do not have the money to pay to keep my wheelchair lift working in my van and the wired remote controller is failing. I looked up what would be a simple and inexpensive part at an auto parts store that has a slightly different connector so for the wheelchair lift version it is nearly $350.00. The United States is HORRIFFIC to its disabled brothers and sisters.

[@craigwarren4202]

barrier to entry, ie it's hard to start an AT company, so almost no one does it

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Yes. There are many different answers and I think it's a complicated situation.

[@Ramosfam845]

Way to much money 😮

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Definitely

[@ToughBeifong]

I don't know. It's complicated lol

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Don't worry come i'll get a better answer out of you later.! 😄

[@ToughBeifong]

@@carrieonaccessibility I have no doubt that you will. lol

[@monicarodrigues985]

Because you really need.

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Yes, because we do really need it..

[@alookinsideablindlife5143]

Yes! It’s horrible

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Yeah... I wish it was different.

[@harpreetthind]

There’s not a massive market for Assistive Technology

[@JokerAlice]

I love how she said not to say supply and demand as a reason, but you did using other words that still mean the same.

[@splashesin8]

I think the market is way bigger than assumed. People needing it just do without due to the same age old societal pressure as always. It is big BS, business as usual. Even canes are outrageous. It's every bit as criminal as the price of insulin, and epi pens.

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Yes, the demand is Not so high so that makes it have a smaller market. But I was asking for other reasons besides supply and demand.....

[@JokerAlice]

They sell it through different parties, they don't expect a blind person to buy it themselves, but rather a company or organazation with funding.

[@carrieonaccessibility]

Amen to that. QUIT IT RIGHT NOW. >.< lol.

[@mandyvan]

Hey, Carrie, our mutual friend Harshid told me about your channel. I make recommendations for adaptive hardware and software and I train users on using the equipment. Especially when I compare a typically higher priced item to a much cheaper version, I have noticed a big difference in the availability and quality of the support. I believe support is factored into the cost, and most of the higher end technology devices have amazing support specialists.

[@carrieonaccessibility]

That is a really interesting point. I've seen something similar and definitely a lot of food for thought! It is great to meet you!