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.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports significant disparities in access to assistive products, with 64% access in high-income countries compared to 33% in medium-income and 11% in low-income countries. The AT2030 Programme, led by the Global Disability Innovation Hub in Nepal, aims to enhance local innovation in assistive technology (AT). In Nepal, the estimated disability rate is only 2.2%, likely underestimated, as organisations work to provide tailored AT and rehabilitation services. This paper outlines our experiences in the AT2030 project, focusing on developing a global-local community, interdisciplinary innovation teams in Kathmandu, and preliminary findings from bespoke product development cases.
This paper analyses 117 articles from the ACM Digital Library over the past two decades, offering (1) a unified taxonomy and the Ability-Diverse Collaboration Framework, (2) a reflective discussion of the current design landscape, and (3) insights into future research opportunities and challenges. We have also made our data and analysis tool available for contributions from the HCI research community.
Click here to read a summary of the WHO-led 2021 study on global access to assistive technology (AT). The study reveals significant disparities in AT access, with rates ranging from less than 3% to 90% across countries. While many nations have AT policies, only 30% provide comprehensive services, and just 10% have sufficient trained personnel. Further research is essential to evaluate specific initiatives and enhance equitable access worldwide.
Click here to read a summary of our review on digital fabrication techniques applied to prosthetics and orthotics. Digital fabrication offers potential to improve global prosthetic access, but gaps in research, large-scale studies, training, and workflow standardisation hinder evidence-based adoption and practical implementation in real-world clinical settings.
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.
Join us at the Accessibility 2030 Pavilion at WUF 2024 in Cairo, and be part of this historic moment as we work together to shape the future of accessible urban design!
The Financial Times piece explores how our AT2030 programme has tested the google relate app to understand how the app is currently used, how can be used and how can be improved - working alongside and training local speech and language therapists in Ghana.
India is a startup nation, and assistive technology is a globally growing market. Find out more about the AT2030 Attvaran Accelerator pitch day at the premiere Indian assistive technology conference, EMPOWER 2024 - a landmark move to accelerate innovation and inclusion in the AT sector.
GDI Hub and NCPEDP will cohost a Demo Day for Assistive Technology Startups at EMPOWER 2024 in Thiruvananthapuram - designed to accelerate the growth of AT solutions, focusing on improving accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. We are seeking ventures to apply to join this pitch opportunity, with two parallel pitching sessions —one for grant funding and another for angel and venture capital investment.
During the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, accessibility at sporting venues improved, but navigating the city remained challenging for people with disabilities due to an outdated metro system, with only 29 out of 300 stations wheelchair-accessible. Temporary measures, such as minibuses and a journey-planning app, helped visitors but highlighted the need for long-term infrastructure upgrades, which could take decades and significant investment. Overall, the Games highlighted both the challenges and opportunities in improving urban accessibility for people with disabilities.
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.
At the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Brazil excelled. But how did they become one of the best performing countries in the world at para sport? Brazil’s success shows change is possible. It also highlights that change won’t happen by itself. Brazil’s story of success contrasts sharply with rich countries like Japan and Australia that typically fare well at the Olympics but lag at the Paralympics due to reported underinvestment and much smaller proportional delegations. We can only hope other governments and decision-makers take note on how to create lasting, sustainable change that brings much more than medals.
As part of the AT2030 gender workstream, we have collaborated with UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO), on a match-funded project which aims to capture the lived experiences of women and girls with disabilities and identify their specific needs during crises and humanitarian situations. In March 2024, we held consultation workshops with the UNFPA-Bangladesh Country Office to consult with partners and stakeholders to discuss how the content of existing Dignity Kits (DKs) and Menstrual Health Management Kits (MHM Kits), often distributed during humanitarian crises, meet the needs of women and girls 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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