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

  • GDI Hub Recognised by Karnali Province Minister for Advancing Assistive Technology Services in Nepal

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    April 25, 2025
    Nepal

    The Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) was thanked by the Honourable Minister for Social Development of Karnali Province for its role in improving access to assistive technology in Nepal. In collaboration with UNICEF Nepal, UGANI Foundation, and the Department of Health Services, GDI Hub helped establish two 3D printing labs in Kathmandu and Surkhet. The GDI Hub continues its commitment to promoting inclusive, technology-driven rehabilitation services in Nepal, working with local stakeholders to create a more accessible and equitable future for all.

  • Global Disability Summit: Accessibility 2030 booth

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    April 2, 2025
    Germany

    We thrilled to bring Accessibility 2030 to the Global Disability Summit (GDS) to drive urban accessibility. Led by GDI Hub with key partners, our booth will showcase innovations, tools, and case studies, sparking collaboration for more inclusive cities.

  • UCL Grand Challenges: A Catalyst to GDI Hub's Global Impact

    Global Disability Innovation Hub, UCL
    Jan. 14, 2025
    London

    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.

  • Changing lives through AI - how a new Centre for Digital Language Inclusion will bridge the barrier between non-standard speech and the use of Automatic Speech Recognition for disabled people worldwide

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    Jan. 8, 2025
    Global

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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 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.

  • 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.

  • Aakash’s Journey with Transtibial Prosthesis

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    March 28, 2025

    After losing his leg in a devastating accident during Nepal’s COVID-19 lockdown, Aakash faced immense challenges accessing care and continuing his education. Through the AT2030 programme, he received a 3D-printed prosthetic limb, significantly improving his mobility and independence. His story illustrates the transformative potential of digital assistive technology in low-resource settings.

  • 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.

  • GDI Hub's Contribution at CPD58: Advancing Gender-Inclusive Assistive Technology

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    April 16, 2025

    At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, during the Commission on Population and Development's Fifty-Eighth Session (CPD58), the GDI Hub participated in a side event focused on health, well-being, and inclusion through equitable access to assistive technology (AT), hosted by WHO and alongside the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics, UNICEF and the National Senior Citizens Centre. This blog explores what was discussed at the event, why it matters, and how the GDI Hub is helping drive change in this space.

  • From Global Insight to Local Action

    Shivani Gupta
    April 14, 2025

    This blog presents the global insights gathered from four years of research undertaken by the Global Disability Innovation Hub, funded by UK International Development under the AT2030 programme. The overarching research question was, ‘What is the current state of inclusive and accessible environments and infrastructure in lower-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), and what is the role of inclusive design in creating an enabling environment for persons with disabilities?’

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