Post 5: Who Gets to Decide?

Here's what I see in most "inclusive AI" design processes:

Accessibility professionals are consulted about accessibility. Disabled people are asked for feedback. Consultants review compliance.

But who makes the core product decisions? Who defines what the system will do? Who has authority over feature prioritization?

Usually: not disabled people. Not marginalized communities. Not the people most affected by whether the system includes or excludes them.

Genuine inclusion governance requires disabled people and marginalized communities embedded directly in decision-making structures with real authority—not as consultants, but as decision-makers.

This requires restructuring power. It's harder than consultation. It's the actual work.

#InclusiveLeadership #DisabilityRights #TechGov