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.
Angus Stewart
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; investing £20m over 5 years to support solutions to scale. Led by Global Disability Innovation Hub and funded by UK aid, AT2030 will reach 9 million directly and 20 million more indirectly, driving a lifetime of potential. AT2030 is operational in 35 countries globally.
In 2022 the WHO and UNICEF published the Global Report on Assistive Technology with AT2030 and ATscale as co-sponsors. We're proud to have supported the creation of this important milestone, driven by UK Aid funding.
GReAT, WHO
The programme is divided into four Programme Clusters and 12 sub-programmes to test ‘what works’ for AT
The GDI Hub is playing a key role in the ten-year #WeThe15 campaign, which champions inclusion for the 15% of the global population living with disabilities.
Find out more about #WeThe15.
Procurement guidelines which seek to standardize the procurement process of AT products for Sierra Leone.
This document was developed to guide the procurement of assistive products in Sierra Leone. It is intended primarily for procurement teams, implementing partners and donors working on providing AT devices for all forms of disabilities.
Assistive technology (AT) (e.g. wheelchairs, hearing aids, or products for people with visual impairments) are crucial for the wellbeing of users, but there is huge and growing unmet need for AT globally. In low-income settings many users access AT from the informal (unregulated) economy, which tends to provide AT in under-served communities, and at lower cost, helping to address this gap. However, AT from informal providers often fails to meet minimum product standards and/or lacks associated services such as assessment, fitting, user training, maintenance and repairs. On the other hand, many users of AT from informal sources value, in addition to low cost, some other features, such as their ability to customize assistive products and innovate in product development. This study therefore proposes exploring ways in which formal and informal providers of AT could work together to improve access at the same time as ensuring the safety and quality of AT for low-income users.
Case Study: Neurodiversity and Disability—Reflections. Excerpted from Disability Interactions: Creating Inclusive Innovations.
Lugha Ishara was founded by Nancy Maina and a team of four volunteers who were passionate about improving the lives of Deaf children and young adults in the country. Their goal was to provide child-friendly KSL testing products that would tackle the challenges of language deprivation and understand the systemic causes to provide solutions. They provide methods and tools for early detection and intervention of hearing loss and language development in deaf children.
Between August and December 2022, 60 Decibels conducted a survey with 29 upper limb prosthetic users of the Koalaa product. They wanted to capture and understand the impact AT had on the users. This impact story shares these findings
Tokyo Paralympics aired to 49 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa for the very first time. In this video we hear from Emmanuel Nii Tetteh Oku, a Paralifter representing Ghana at the games. Emmanuel discusses his return from the games and the impact of the TV coverage, specifically in relation to stigma. Reflecting on his experiences, Emmanuel discusses his pride in representing his country and the confidence and freedom that Assistive Technology and Para Sport has given him. He also discssed being a role model in his community, and inspiring others with disabilities to follow a Para Sport route.
Between August and December 2022, 60 Decibels conducted a survey with 29 upper limb prosthetic users of the Koalaa product. They wanted to capture and understand the impact AT had on the users. This impact story shares these findings
Persons with disabilities face multiple challenges. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 1.3 billion people worldwide experience significant disabilities, representing 16% of the world's population or 1 in 6 individuals. Additionally, persons with disabilities are at a higher risk of developing various health conditions and may experience premature mortality. To address these challenges in Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Health & Sanitation, with support from Clinton Health Foundation (CHAI) and other technical partners, conducted a landscape assessment of assistive technology (AT) services in Sierra Leone in 2019. The assessment revealed critical gaps in the Assistive Technology (AT) landscape, including the absence of a policy and strategy for AT, which posed challenges for planning and implementing evidence-based AT activities in the country.
Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre (SLURC) are delighted to invite you to the launch of this new case study considering Inclusive Design and Accessibility of the Built Environment in Freetown as part of the UK aid funded AT2030 sub-programme, ‘Inclusive Infrastructure’ - exploring the role of inclusive environments to enable equal access to Assistive Technology (AT).
A launch event of Freetown's Inclusive Design and Accessibility of the Built Environment Case Study. This event will share findings and recommendations for infrastructure, built environment and urban development - with the aim of driving global action to more accessible and inclusive cities.
On 28 and 29 March, the WHO Assistive technology team hosted a meeting in Geneva to review the methodology, outcome and dissemination of the WHO rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) survey and plan for further strengthening this important data collection tool.
Assistive technology (AT), like hearing aids, wheelchairs, and glasses, is critical to healthy ageing as it supports functioning and independence. As most countries are rapidly and dynamically ageing (or already aged), access to AT cannot be underestimated. Yet evidence on what AT is needed, where, and by whom is sparsely available in global health literature.
The partnership between GDI Hub and CHAI has been a great example of how complementary capabilities and experiences can fuel transformational change. In this blog we explore more on the history and future of collaboration, and how we are working together to drive access and impact of AT globally.
When we use the term Assistive Technology (AT), we usually think about products like wheelchairs and walking sticks, hearing aids and eye-glasses, prosthetics and digital or mobile devices. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests a broad definition of assistive technology which emphasises services (diagnostics, fitting, ‘on-demand’ assistance), systems (infrastructure, processes), and products (eyeglasses, hearing aids, mobility aids).
Measures implemented by governments worldwide in response to the escalation of the COVID-19 global pandemic have had a significant impact on everyone. Lockdown and physical distancing policies have led many people to spend the majority of their time at home, only leaving the house for basic essentials and relying on digital infrastructure and delivery services for work, learning, socialising and receiving supplies more than ever before. However, many people with disabilities might be affected by some of these changes in unique and unexpected ways, both positively and negatively.
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