Technology Acceptance and Trust in Inclusive Digital Ecosystems for Disability and Neurodiversity: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic review examined technology acceptance and trust in inclusive digital contexts involving neurodivergent individuals and people with disabilities. Following PRISMA 2020, Scopus, PubMed, and ERIC were searched for empirical studies published between January 2021 and August 2026. Of 127 records identified, 42 studies were included. TAM- and UTAUT-family models predominated (66.7%), whereas trust was explicitly operationalised in only 7.1% of studies. Acceptance was mainly associated with usability, perceived usefulness, social and contextual influences, organisational support, digital skills, self-efficacy, and accessibility. AI-related technologies were the largest category (45.2%), while educational contexts predominated (61.9%). Findings support a person–technology–context perspective and highlight the need to examine trust-related dimensions, accessibility, user capabilities, and contextual support alongside established acceptance constructs.