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

  • 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.

  • Women less likely than men to use mobility aids despite greater need

    Jamie Danemayer, Mikaela Bloomberg, Adam Mills, Catherine Holloway, Shereen Hussein
    Dec. 13, 2024
    Global

    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.

  • 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.

  • Man Kumari, 11 years old’s Journey: Walking Towards Independence with a 3D-Printed Prosthetic Leg

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    March 28, 2025

    At just 11 years old, Man Kumari from rural Nepal now walks to school on her own using a 3D-printed prosthetic leg provided through the AT2030 programme. After losing her leg at age five, she spent years reliant on her mother to move around. The new device, designed and fitted using digital technology, has transformed her daily life, enabling her to attend school, help at home, and play with friends. Her story reflects both the promise and ongoing challenges of delivering sustainable, child-focused assistive technology in remote, climate-vulnerable regions.

  • 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.

  • Joseph Etyang: Mobile as AT

    Joseph Etyang
    March 28, 2025

    Joseph Etyang, a Deaf professional in Nairobi, shares how a specialised phone from Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa has transformed his daily life. With real-time captions, sound alerts, and accessible messaging, he can now communicate more independently; at work, at home, and beyond.

  • Paralympics and Inclusive Sport

    Maryam Bandukda
    Sept. 17, 2024
    Global

    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?

  • 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?’

  • Can The Commercial Be Political?

    Jennie Wong, Dr. Jessica Noske Turner (LU London)
    March 31, 2025

    In the world of sports, the blending of social change with commercial interests has always been a complex dance. In our current project, Para Sport Against Stigma (PSAS), we navigated this grey zone between social change and commercial interests, striving to use the platform of Para sports to drive disability inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa while grappling with the realities of commercial pressures. The question that lingers throughout the project is, can the commercial ever truly be political?

  • Pioneering Prosthetic Innovation in Nepal: Testing silicone locking liner prosthesis

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    March 26, 2025
    Nepal

    Our new pilot study at Green Pastures Hospital, Nepal, explores advanced prosthetics for people with limb loss and leprosy. Led by GDI Hub with INF and Operation Namaste, it tests a locally made silicone locking liner to improve care in low-resource settings. Experts and patients joined for research, workshops, and discussions to assess its impact.

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