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.
This research summary provides key highlights and snapshot content from the Multi-country rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) 2019-2021: findings from a consultative review.
This paper explored their experiences of providing and accessing AT, including procurement strategies, adoption of new technologies, and provision pathways. Overall, we found that there is still a substantial knowledge gap in assistive products, how to access products, and funding for needed products. These discussions also enlightened us that word-of-mouth and peer networks are the main avenues through which knowledge of assistive products is shared. Difficulties in keeping up with the expanding innovative landscape was raised as a key concern.
This study contributes by delineating the unmet information needs in wheelchair tracking and advocating for more research interests to develop and design tracking tools in Human-Computer Interactions (HCI) that enrich the everyday experiences of wheelchair users.
A collection of the case studies from the Inclusive Design and Accessibility of the Built Environment research.
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.
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.
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.
What makes Felista's adjustment remarkable is the user-friendly design of her device, especially its short applications that simplify tasks, such as efficient navigation. The training she received on utilizing voice commands with Google has proven to be a positive change, enabling her to effortlessly send voice messages.
As the first day of sport kicked off in Paris, and crowds around the city streamed into venues to cheer Paralympians in action, the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and Dame Menna Rawlings - British Ambassador to France – were delighted to welcome esteemed guests to the 'Beyond Sport' panel and reception to explore disability, innovation and the power of Paralympic legacy.
Africa remains one of the least engaged regions when it comes to disability sports and the adoption of assistive technology. Feedback from Phase One of the AT2030 Para Sport Against Stigma project highlighted a recurring misconception that disability sports are primarily a concept of the Global North, with little relevance in Africa. To challenge this narrative, and to leverage the global attention on disability sports in the lead-up to the Paris Games, we launched the #BeyondThisLand campaign - a digital initiative aimed at attracting a new and diverse audience to disability sports while increasing viewership among existing enthusiasts in Africa.
Attvaran seeks to accelerate startup growth, supporting early-stage inclusive, disability and technology startups in improving their product-market fit. Through intense mentorship, ecosystem access, education and networking, this Delhi based accelerator will provide a pipeline for emerging regional technologies - and bring together key players in the assistive technology ecosystem.
The intense three-month program beginning July 2024 will include expert talks, time-bound exercises, bespoke mentorship and building a network to a prolific ecosystem of entrepreneurs, disability and tech experts, assistive technology users, customers and investors. The program aims to boost early-stage entrepreneurs in transforming solutions into compelling businesses.
As Paris 2024 Paralympics builds to its conclusion, the cultural footprint of the games continues. This unique global moment creates enhanced mechanisms for amplifying the values of the Paralympics – far beyond sport, and into all areas of culture and society. Presented to coincide with this year’s Paralympic Games, the Global Disability Innovation Hub’s UK aid funded AT2030 programme is proud to support a collaboration between leading UK and South African Deaf and disabled artists that looks to imagine what the future might hold for disabled people
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.
The London Games felt very special, I could sense a pivot in the way that Paralympic sport and disability more generally, was being presented to me. The London Paralympics had attitude, it was edgy, humorous, honest, ballsey, super-human - this drew me in to a culture that I hadn’t really engaged with before, and I loved it. As a designer and engineer I was blow away by the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which oozes human-centred design, and made the experience for everyone at the games equally brilliant. Looking back, I can now appreciate that what I’d experienced was an event and a place where inclusion had been baked-in from the very beginning and not as an after-thought or tick box.
The magnificent 2012 Paralympic Games were a game-changer - a Big Bang for the Paralympic Movement. Never before had a Paralympic Games achieved such record breaking attendance, with the stadium selling out, national and international broadcast attention and a global audience of 3.8 billion. Hear reflections from Jenny Sealey and Bradley Hemmings: Co-artistic directors of the Paralympic Opening Ceremony, 2012 as they explore how global moments can and do change the way we see the world.
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.
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.
Getting assistive technology to people who need it is only successful if the built environment supports its use. To create an enabling environment, the intersectional challenges experienced by disabled people must be recognized and addressed. This side event will share findings and experiences, exploring emerging themes and recommendations and how these insights will accelerate other cities towards inclusive futures.
This event has been postponed. We intend to reschedule a digital activity in the coming weeks. The story of affordable, easy to fit, soft upper limb prosthetic in Seirra Leone. This event will include a panel discussion and film screening from BBC Media Seirra Leone, who have captured the experiences of Koalaa prosethetic users in Seirra Leone. As part of the UK aid funded AT2030 programme, the innovative Koalaa prosethetic was introduced for the first time to Africa. During this film screening and panel we'll hear more on the project to drive end-to-end service from manufacturing to fitting and maintenance.
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