Navigating Life After Limb Loss

Sarah de Lagarde's life took a drastic turn after a horrific accident left her without two limbs. Returning to work as the global head of corporate affairs at Janus Henderson Investors, she found that her employer's support was just as crucial as the bionic technology she now relies on.

A Gripping Tale of Tragedy and Transformation

In 2022, de Lagarde’s life changed forever when she fell onto the tracks of the London Underground’s Northern Line, resulting in the loss of her right arm and severe leg injuries. She is now among 60 million people worldwide who live with amputation due to trauma—a staggering statistic that emphasizes the need for innovative solutions.

The Reality of Bionic Limbs

What she expected to be a journey into a world of superhuman capabilities has turned into a series of struggles. De Lagarde highlights that current bionic technologies are far from perfect—the market for these prosthetics is still underdeveloped, with many users ultimately abandoning their devices due to limitations.

Facing Fees and Frequent Fittings

While eager to test and provide feedback on new prosthetic technologies, de Lagarde faces substantial burdens: replacements every six months, ongoing physiotherapy, and weekly fittings all take a significant mental and financial toll. These challenges are echoed in a UN study outlining the rapidly growing population of people with disabilities, now over 2.5 billion globally.

The Eye-Watering Cost of High-Tech Solutions

Cutting-edge AI technology offers unprecedented possibilities for prosthetic limbs, but the price is shockingly high. For example, a bionic hand from Coapt Engineering can reach up to $45,000, while the revolutionary 'Luke' arm—designed to be controlled via thought—costs a jaw-dropping $200,000.

Limited Availability and Ethical Concerns

Despite impressive advancements, availability remains limited, exemplified by only eight 'Luke' arms currently in use. Experts warn that the focus on high-tech solutions often sidelines the needs and preferences of disabled individuals, raising ethical concerns about inclusivity in the design process.

A Call for Inclusion and Accessibility

As Britt H Young, a lecturer at UC Berkeley and a limb difference advocate, argues, the tech world often overlooks disabled individuals, who are crucial for developing user-focused products. She warns of the need for simpler, more affordable alternatives that meet the actual needs of users rather than being overly complicated.

The Future of Assistive Technology

De Lagarde calls for a future where advanced technology and affordability go hand-in-hand. "It’s not a luxury to want an arm that functions," she asserts. The ethical use of AI in developing assistive care should be recognized as a basic human right—a vision that advocates hope will one day become a reality.