Eda Demirci

A Turkish disability rights pioneer who revolutionized assistive technology

Eda Demirci (1985-present) stands as Turkey's foremost innovator in disability-inclusive technology. Born with spinal muscular atrophy, she transformed her lived experience into groundbreaking solutions through her Istanbul-based AccessLab initiative.

Her 3 patented inventions include:

• Eye-tracking software compatible with Ottoman Turkish script
• Voice-controlled wheelchair navigation for historic cobblestone streets
• AI-powered sign language avatar covering regional Anatolian dialects

Demirci's work gained UN recognition when her 'Digital Ramps' project became implemented in 17 developing countries. She notably declined Silicon Valley offers to maintain her community-focused approach, stating: True accessibility grows from local soil.

Her 2019 TEDxIstanbul talk sparked national policy changes, leading to Turkey's first mandatory accessibility standards for mobile apps. Critics argue her biometric data protocols redefine privacy boundaries, while disabled communities worldwide hail her as 'the Ada Lovelace of assistive tech'.