Influence of Assistive Technology Interoperability on Digital Inclusivity in E-Justice Systems for Persons with Disabilities

This paper examines how three dimensions of Assistive Technology Interoperability (ATI), namely Operating System (OS)/platform interoperability, assistive software compatibility, and input/interaction modality interoperability, influence digital inclusivity within e‑justice systems. Assistive technologies including screen readers, voice recognition software, magnifiers, and alternative input devices are the primary mechanisms through which many persons with disabilities access digital systems. Yet e‑justice platforms are rarely designed or tested for interoperability with these tools, creating a structural barrier that transforms digital courtrooms from gateways into gatekeepers. Drawing on the Social Model of Disability and extending the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2), the study employed a sequential explanatory mixed‑methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 362 court users, judicial officers, and advocates in Nairobi County, Kenya, and analysed using covariance‑based structural equation modelling (CB‑SEM). Qualitative data from semi‑structured interviews with persons with visual, hearing, and mobility impairments provided contextual triangulation. The findings reveal that ATI is a strong predictor of digital inclusivity (β = 0.492, p < 0.001). Among the three dimensions of ATI, assistive software compatibility (loading = 0.792) emerged as the most influential, followed by Operating System (OS)/platform interoperability (0.697) and input/interaction modality interoperability (0.665). The study concludes that AT interoperability functions as a gateway variable: without it, no other accessibility investment is fully effective. For judicial ICT directors and policymakers, the findings mandate that AT interoperability testing be embedded in procurement contracts, development cycles, and quality assurance protocols as a non‑negotiable precondition for digital inclusivity.