It is estimated that by 2050 over 3.5 billion people would benefit from Assistive Technology, yet 90% will not have access.

AT2030 is changing that. 

GDI Hub

It is estimated that by 2050 over 3.5 billion people would benefit from Assistive Technology, yet 90% will not have access.

AT2030 is changing that. 

AT2030 tests ‘what works’ to improve access to life-changing Assistive Technology (AT) for all. Led by Global Disability Innovation Hub and funded by UK aid, we've reached 34 million people in 61 countries, driving a lifetime of potential. In 2023 UK aid announced a further £31 million investment to the AT2030 programme.

Search the AT2030 programme

Inclusive Cities, Global Action Report

The aim of this report is to equip cities with practical but evidence-based actions to accelerate accessibility and inclusion in their physical infrastructure, buildings, services and operation.


Cities worldwide are experiencing continued growth and increasing resource challenges In low-and-middle income settings, this is particularly challenging, where in many cases huge infrastructural development is necessary. With resource constraints and increasing global challenges (rising inequality, climate changes, pandemics), it is even more critical that accessibility and inclusive design are seamlessly integrated into the planning and design of cities and all their functions, to ensure the effective and resilient use of resources to create liveable and enjoyable cities and ensure persons with disabilities are not left behind.

Programme Clusters

The current programme (AT2030 version 3) is divided into five Programme Clusters and 13 sub-programmes to test ‘what works’ for AT. For more about AT2030 version 1 and 2 and our delivery between 2018 and 2024 - visit the about section.

AT2030 Inclusive Infrastructure - six cities

We've researched inclusive city design in 6 global cities to understand the current challenges, the opportunities, what's working well and what isn’t. To get AT to people who need it, the built environment must be inclusive, easy to use and navigate. Hear from the cities involved, and the next steps.

Find out more.

Latest

  • How can the principles of Human Computer Interaction inform responsible AI adoption in humanitarian practice?

    Tigmanshu Bhatnagar, Maarya Omar, Davor Orlic, James Smith, Dr Maria Kett, Catherine Holloway
    May 28, 2025
    AT2030 Resources

    On Wed, 30 April 2025, Tigmanshu Bhatnagar presented a paper at the CHI 2025 conference, on 'Bridging AI and Humanitarianism: An HCI-Informed Framework for Responsible AI Adoption' by Tigmanshu Bhatnagar, Maarya Omar, Davor Orlic, James Smith, Catherine Holloway, Maria Kett,  as part of a session on Trust and Responsibility in AI. CHI is the ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. It is the premier international conference of Human Computer Interaction. This video explores some of the issues detailed in the research.

  • The Global Disability Inclusion Report: Accelerating Disability Inclusion in a Changing and Diverse World

    A Multi-stakeholder Report for the Global Disability Summit 2025
    May 27, 2025
    Academic Research Publications

    The Global Disability Inclusion Report: Accelerating Disability Inclusion in a Changing and Diverse World was developed specifically for the Global Disability Summit 2025. It provides an overview of how the profound changes shaping our world impact the diversity of persons with disabilities and pathways to address these changes and drive inclusion across all aspects of life.

  • Storytelling for Assistive Technology Advocacy

    Maryam Bandukda
    May 9, 2025
    Case Studies and Reports

    This case study highlights storytelling workshops in Kenya and Pakistan, part of the AT2030 programme, empowering individuals with visual and hearing impairments to advocate for assistive technology and disability rights. Through participatory activities and tools participants reflected on their experiences, set advocacy goals, and crafted personal stories to amplify their voices.

  • Storytelling for disability advocacy workbook

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    May 9, 2025
    Global
    AT2030 Resources

    In recognising storytelling's transformative potential, this toolkit has been developed to empower individuals and communities to articulate their stories effectively. Through structured approaches and practical resources, participants are guided in creating compelling narratives that not only convey their lived experiences but also amplify their voices in advocating for greater access to assistive technology.

  • Kenyan para athletes

    Harrison Kamau
    May 1, 2025
    Kenya

    Alongside Paris 2024 we explored innovative mechanisms to amplify para sport activities and drive change. Working alongside Kenyan athletes and the youth movement and award-winning media house Shujaaz – we were able to reach new audiences with the aim of dismantling stereotypes and sharing first person narratives of entrepreneurship, sporting achievement and community participation. Thought the narrative of successful para-athletes we have looked to spark youth interest to expanding the pipeline of future sporting talent.  A vivid illustration of these efforts can be seen in the experiences of two Kenyan para-athletes who competed on the international stage at Paris 2024 – and were part of the team that ensured Kenya’s most decorated Paralympic team since 2008 Beijing. Samson Ojuka a long-jumper and sprinter. Here are the stories of the two para athletes.

  • Amplifying Para Athlete Voices Through Radio Drama.

    Story Worskshop
    April 22, 2025
    Malawi

    In the lead up to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games six episodes of the popular Malawian radio drama series, Zimachitika (These Things Happen) were broadcast as a creative way of building interest in Para sport. In Malawi, radio remains a cornerstone of communication, with a listenership rate of 71.2% of the national population . This makes it the most consumed and trusted source of information in the country. With 76 licensed radio stations, ranging from national to community levels, radio has the unparalleled ability to reach diverse audiences. For 28 years, programs like Zimachitika, produced by Story Workshop Educational Trust (SWET), have leveraged this reach to address pressing social issues, including discrimination against people with disabilities. By weaving authentic narratives into its storytelling, the drama not only entertains but also educates and challenges societal biases, a strategy known as ‘edutainment’.

  • Kenyan Para athelete Stency Neema

    Harrison Kamau
    March 31, 2025
    Kenya

    Alongside Paris 2024 we explored innovative mechanisms to amplify para sport activities and drive change. Working alongside Kenyan athletes and the youth movement and award-winning media house Shujaaz, we were able to reach new audiences with the aim of dismantling stereotypes and sharing first person narratives of entrepreneurship, sporting achievement and community participation. Through the narrative of successful para-athletes, we have looked to spark youth interest to expanding the pipeline of future sporting talent.  A vivid illustration of these efforts can be seen in the experiences of Stency Neema, a Kenyan para-athlete, para-badminton, and para-taekwondo star.

  • Kenyan para athlete Samson Ojuka

    Harrison Kamau
    March 31, 2025
    Kenya

    Samson who was born with Erb's palsy, competes in para athletics classifications that typically involve athletes with lower-limb differences or limitations. Born and raised in Kenya, Samson is based in Nairobi, where he trains under challenging conditions. He has been competing for close to a decade, having started his athletic journey in secondary school as a 100-meter sprinter before coaches recognized his exceptional takeoff power and fluid stride perfect traits for the long jump.

  • Advancing Access to Vision Through Innovation

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    June 4, 2025
    Kenya

    In recognition of World Assistive Technology Day, we’re thrilled to highlight our collaboration with Dot Glasses as part of the UK International Development’s AT2030 Programme, delivered in partnership with Senses Hub. This initiative supports academic research and validation of Dot Glasses' innovative model, with the goal of ensuring its long-term scalability and sustainability.

  • Call for Interview Participants: Disability-Inclusive Climate Action Study

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    June 3, 2025
    Global

    The Global Disability Innovation Hub is conducting a research study on disability inclusion in local climate action, as part of the AT2030 programme funded by UK International Development. We invite OPDs, disability advocates, NGOs, and experts, especially those with lived experience, to take part in a 60–75 minute online interview in June or July 2025. Participants must be based in one of the selected cities and will receive a small honorarium for their time.

  • The Future of Financial Inclusion: Transforming global financing and the finance sector from the inside out.

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    May 28, 2025
    United States

    Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals will take more than overseas development finance alone. We also need the power of private capital, from financial institutions and a new generation of high-net-worth investors, to help fill the gap. To coincide with the UN’s disability event - the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP), our reception and panel on ‘The Future of Financial Inclusion’ will spotlight how the global financial system can be a force for disability-inclusive development.

  • GDI Hub at Inclusive Africa 2025

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    May 28, 2025
    Kenya

    The Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) is proud to be participating in the upcoming Inclusive Africa Conference 2025, a leading regional platform advancing digital accessibility, assistive technology (AT), and disability inclusion across the continent. Taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, from June 3rd to 6th, this year’s conference promises dynamic conversations, collaborative learning, and bold innovations aimed at unlocking inclusion through technology. GDI Hub will lead and contribute to a series of impactful sessions throughout the week, spotlighting the role of inclusive ecosystems, OPD (Organisations of Persons with Disabilities) capacity-building, and locally driven innovation.

  • Empowering OPDs to Lead Change

    Harrison Kamau
    June 3, 2025

    As part of the Global Disability Innovation Hub’s UK aid-funded AT2030 programme, a regional initiative has been rolled out to deepen understanding of OPD needs and priorities in Kenya and Pakistan. In Kenya, this work is led by Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa (KBTA), and in Pakistan, by the Special Talent Exchange Program (STEP). These efforts fall under the “Include” cluster of AT2030, focusing on leadership and engagement to drive systemic change.

  • Webinar 2: Creating Inclusive Infrastructure

    Bala Nagendran
    May 30, 2025
    Global

    We look back at the second session—Creating Inclusive Infrastructure of the four-part series reinforced this message from the lens of making everyday spaces truly inclusive. Annamae Muldowney from GDI Hub’s Inclusive Design team situated the discussion, drawing insights from both the Global Comparison Report and Global Action Report.

  • AT2030 innovator Brian Mwenda makes the Forbes Europe 30 Under 30 list for Social Impact with his venture, Hope Tech

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    April 23, 2025

    Brian Mwenda, Founder of Hope Tech, has joined the Forbes Europe 30 Under 30 list in the Social Impact category. This prestigious recognition highlights the exceptional contribution of Brian and the Hope Tech team in advancing inclusive innovation for assistive technology (AT). The Global Disability Innovation Hub’s (GDI Hub) AT2030 programme, funded by the British Government, supported Hope Tech in their early stages of innovation through our Innovate Now AT Accelerator in Kenya.

  • IncluCity: Webinar 1: Global Insights to Local Action

    Annamae Muldowney
    April 23, 2025

    The first session in our new IncluCity webinar series – Global Insights to Local Action – set the tone for what will be an ongoing dialogue between research, local expertise, and lived experience. Designed to unpack the findings of our Global Action Report, this series brings together key voices from around the world to explore how cities can transform themselves into more accessible and inclusive spaces for all.

  • AT Innovation and Impact Podcast

    Maryam Bandukda, Harrison Kamau
    Dec. 3, 2024
    Kenya
    Case Studies and Reports

    This podcast is brought to you by the Global Disability Innovation Hub’s flagship AT2030 programme, funded by UKAid. In this series, we're embarking on a journey through the heart of Africa to explore a world where creativity and technology meet to challenge and change our understanding of disability. We will spotlight the incredible work of Innovate Now, Africa’s first assistive technology accelerator, and the pioneering spirits behind its success. We’ll uncover how the AT innovation ecosystem in Africa is not just evolving but also revolutionising the way assistive technologies are perceived, developed, and adopted. Innovate Now was co-founded 2019 by the Global Disability Innovation Hub and Bernard Chiira.

  • Innovation Podcast

    Global Disability Innovation Hub, University College London, Giulia Barbareschi, Government of Kenya, ALL Institute (Maynooth University), UK Aid, UCL, Rhys Williams, Dr Rhys Williams, Institute of Making
    Feb. 15, 2021
    Global
    News

    A podcast featuring interviews and stories from the brains behind the disruptive and cutting-edge innovations that are aiming to impact the lives of millions of people living in different areas of the world.

  • Disability inclusive Solutions for the Climate Crisis: Roundtable

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    June 23, 2025
    10:00AM- 17:00hrs
    United Kingdom

    Join us for a full-day participatory roundtable and workshop exploring the intersection of disability inclusion and climate action.

  • The Future of Financial Inclusion: Transforming global financing and the finance sector from the inside out.

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    June 10, 2025
    6:30-8:30 pm (EDT)
    United States

    Hosted by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), Small Enterprise Assistance Funds (SEAF) and the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub), this insightful discussion will explore how the financial sector can and is partnering with the international disability community, to accelerate sustainable, inclusive growth.

  • GDI Hub at the 18th Session Of The Conference Of States Parties To The CRPD (COSP18)

    Global Disability Innovation Hub, Sophie Glickman
    June 9, 2025

    The Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) is thrilled to participate in the upcoming COSP18, the UN’s annual meeting where governments, civil society, and other stakeholders review progress and share ideas on implementing disability rights under the CRPD. Taking place at the UN’s headquarters in New York City from the 9th to the 12th, this year’s COSP will focus on innovative financing to strengthen inclusive policies, the role of AI in enhancing participation, and recognising the rights of Indigenous persons with disabilities in advancing disability inclusion.

  • Innovate for Impact: Device & Digital Assistive Tech Hackathon 2025

    Global Disability Innovation Hub, Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, Norad
    May 15, 2025
    Midnight

    This flagship hackathon is powered by Innovate Now, Africa’s pioneering AT accelerator, led by the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa (KBTA), with support from NORAD. It is delivered in partnership with AT4D, a Kenyan OPD and non-profit spun out from GDI Hub’s UK aid-funded AT2030 programme.

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