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.
The worlds most ambitious scaling pathway for high-potential growth-ready accessible & assistive technology ventures. Transcending a new frontier for venture capital and commercial lending in AT, we’re power mass market adoption of Accessible Technology through public and private capital.
It's time to think big. Find out more.
GDI Hub. Image of the AT2030 Mobile as AT project in Kenya.
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.
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.
These case study reports highlight locally produced prosthetics in Nepal, developed by GDI Hub, Zener Technologies, and the Enabling Fridays Community. The project blends global and local expertise to address individual needs, improve production processes, and foster innovation. This partnership evolved into a focused effort on assistive technologies, with two bespoke cases in Kathmandu featured in the reports.
The UK Aid-funded AT2030 project improved access to assistive technology in Nepal by developing locally produced prosthetics through collaboration between Nepali experts and global innovators. Emphasizing user-centred design, prosthetic users helped shape the final devices, ensuring they met both functional and personal needs. The project provided effective prosthetics while strengthening Nepal’s innovation capacity, securing further funding to expand the initiative.
This review explores digital fabrication for orthotic devices, highlighting CAD/CAM's proven success and AM's potential, though larger studies are needed. Digital methods can improve customisation and efficiency, but more research and collaboration are required to expand global access to quality orthotics.
Cross-sectional evidence suggests that access to essential mobility assistive products (MAPs) might be dependent on non-clinical factors. However, MAP use is better understood as a dynamic process wherein individuals pass through different states of MAP need and use. We aimed to test associations of demographic, socioeconomic, and social factors with transitions between MAP need and use states.
More than 4,000 disabled athletes competed in Paris. Each of these athletes have a story of passion, of resilience, and overcoming barriers. We would love to hear stories from disabled people who are passionate about sports. Do you have a story to share?
London 2012 – Choreographer Mark Smith reflects on his experience of the legacy of a Paralympic Opening Ceremony Changing perspective of Deaf and disabled people in sport and art look at what made the opening ceremony of the Paralympics London 2012 so special , and how it changed people's perspective of Deaf and disabled people especially in sport and art.
There is a significant need for prosthetics, coupled with a lack of access and also a strong stigma around having limb differences. Below is a video of Santos.
Globally, there remains a significant need for affordable and comfortable prosthetics that can aid independence, inclusivity and health equity. This is particularly true in areas that have experienced conflict, and within lower/middle income countries. Working with governments, charities and other key partners on the ground to provide access to our prosthetics, in areas of the world that need them the most, is the focus of our dedicated Global Access Team. We have been lucky enough to secure a grant as part of the Assistive Technology Impact Fund (ATIF), under the banner of AT2030, which aims to increase access to assistive technology of all kinds, all over the world.
In 2016, the UCL Grand Challenge awarded the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) an initial grant of £10,000. With this, we set out to address some of the most pressing challenges facing people with disabilities worldwide. Find out more.
Automatic Speech Recognition is transforming the communication ability of people with non-standard speech. The prevalence of mobile devices, alongside free-to-access apps, is making Automatic Speech Recognition accessible, convenient, and less stigmatizing for people with slurred or difficult-to-understand speech. Today, UCL’s Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) is launching a new Centre for Digital Language Inclusion alongside collaborative partners Royal Academy of Engineering, University of Ghana and Talking Tipps. The Centre will collect datasets of non-standard speech to build Automatic Speech Recognition models, enabling disabled people with communication barriers to take advantage of Automatic Speech Recognition software.
Women are more likely than men to experience mobility limitations that could benefit from the use of mobility aids but are much less likely to use them when needed, according to a new study from researchers at UCL and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Though the prevalence of disability continues to rise among the over fifties, many people do not have access to the mobility aids – such as canes, walkers, or wheelchairs – that are essential for maintaining independence and social engagement.
Welcome to the AT Innovation Podcast. In this series, we embark on a journey through the heart of Africa to explore a world where creativity and technology converge to challenge and transform our understanding of disability. We spotlight the work of Innovate Now, Africa’s first assistive technology accelerator, and the pioneering individuals behind its success. Together, we uncover how Africa's assistive technology innovation ecosystem is not just evolving but revolutionizing the way assistive technologies are perceived, developed, and adopted.
In Ghana, people who have difficulties with speech articulation face significant barriers in interacting with others, often leading to social isolation and reduced participation in everyday activities. As part of the AT2030 project, funded by FCDO, Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) set out to evaluate the first freely available Android-based application for automated speech recognition , Google Project Relate, in Ghana.
From the discussions around this year’s becoming the ‘greenest ever games’ to the extreme heat dome hitting Western Europe, Paris 2024 made headlines for many things ‘climate.’ This blog extends this climate narrative and highlights the power of sports to consolidate voices and accelerate inclusive climate action, as we anticipate higher ambitions and bolder commitments from the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 29).
From my perspective, the most spectacular part of the event was the first ever #Accessibility2030 pavilion—a space in the Urban Expo owned by the disability stakeholders to showcase the gaps, best practices and importance of disability inclusion in cities.
The Inclusive Infrastructure sub-programme, led by GDI Hub, recognises that the built environment, the world where we live, dictates our ability to use the AT we need. Access to the built environment is a fundamental human right, protected by the UN CRPD. However, the world we have designed and built presents a multitude of barriers and challenges for many, including persons with disabilities.
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.
Global Disability Innovation Hub is excited to lead two sessions at World Urban Forum 12 on Inclusive Cities and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure.
This UN Summit of the Future side-event in New York aims to explore how multi-stakeholder partnerships in Education and Assistive Technology can transform education and employment opportunities for children and young people with disabilities. Through positive story telling and showcasing innovative solutions, we seek to demonstrate the power of working together in partnership to realize the promise of the SDGs and leave no one behind.
Stigma and discrimination are among the most pressing challenges preventing access to Assistive Technologies (AT) for persons with disabilities in African contexts, where as little as 3% have the AT they need. This webinar will highlight learnings from the past four years frome the Para Sport Against Stigma programme, a collaboration between Loughborough University, the University of Malawi, and the International Paralympic Committee.
Organized by UNICEF, ATscale, International Disability Alliance, and the Global Disability Innovation Hub, and co-sponsored by Australia, the United States, and Rwanda, this COSP17 side event promises to be an illuminating exploration of the power of partnership to achieve universal access to assistive technology.
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