Mexico Proposes Digital Accessibility Reform for Disabilities

Mexican lawmakers want to close the digital divide for people with disabilities through proposed amendments to the General Law for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. The initiative, led by PVEM Deputy Carlos Guevara, seeks to guarantee equitable access to technologies, digital services and remote work opportunities.

“Inclusion is not about quotas or representation,” says Fernando Estrada, CEO, Éntrale, to MBN. “It is about building workplaces grounded in belonging, respect, and participation. It is an investment in human capital and long-term business.”

According to the 2020 Population and Housing Census, 5.7% of the Mexican population lives with a disability. Mobility challenges are the most frequently reported issue within this group, underscoring the critical need for policies that foster inclusion not just in the workplace but across all aspects of daily life, as reported by Teletón.

Addressing these barriers requires not only physical accommodations but also inclusive digital environments. The proposal seeks to modify five articles of the law to incorporate the concept of “universal digital accessibility,” defined as the design of platforms and services that can be used by people with disabilities on equal terms. It would also introduce “assisted technology” as any system, application, or device designed to enhance functional capacities in digital environments.

Under the reforms, public policies would be required to ensure direct participation of people with disabilities in the development of technological tools and regulatory frameworks, as well as the promotion of inclusive digital environments. The amendments would also expand the responsibilities of the federal executive branch to foster participation of this sector in public, political, and social life.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare would be tasked with ensuring that remote workspaces, digital job platforms, and virtual recruitment processes are accessible through adaptive technology, appropriate formats, and personalized assistance.  This mandate aligns with Article 123 of Mexico’s Constitution, which guarantees the right to dignified and socially beneficial work for all individuals, and with Article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that affirms the right of people with disabilities to work on equal terms.

The reforms also mandate effective access to digital justice, including virtual hearings, electronic notifications, and accessible formats for individuals with sensory, cognitive, or psychosocial disabilities.

Guevara says that while digital transformation has expanded access to services, education, justice, and civic participation, it has also created new barriers for people with disabilities. These obstacles, he adds, deepen inequality and conflict with existing principles of universal accessibility, substantive equality, and autonomy.