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.

Global Report on Assistive Technology 

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. 

Text graphic:

GReAT, WHO

Programme Clusters

The programme is divided into four Programme Clusters and 12 sub-programmes to test ‘what works’ for AT

GDI Hub is a founding partner in the #WeThe15 Movement

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.

Latest

  • Baseline Survey in Pakistan Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA)

    World Health Organisation (Pakistan), Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination Government of Pakistan
    March 1, 2023
    Pakistan

    Pakistan is the first country globally to conduct the rATA national survey with the objective to assess the needs and unmet needs of assistive technology and identify the barriers to access assistive technology in the population of Pakistan. Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination (NHSRC) in collaboration with World Health Organization successfully implemented the survey in 16 districts of the country, including over 9000 households and nearly 63000 respondents. The data collected provides useful insights into the current situation of access to assistive technology in the country, and offers recommendations to improve access.

  • Experiences of lower limb prosthesis users in Kenya: a qualitative study to understand motivation to use and satisfaction with prosthetic outcomes

    Catherine Holloway, Dr Ben Oldfrey, Grace Magomere, Kate Mattick, Maggie Kate Donovan-Hall, Joseph Gakunga
    Feb. 27, 2023
    Kenya

    This paper explores the personal and system factors that motivate and enhance outcomes for patients accessing a prosthetic service and using a lower-limb prosthesis within a low resource setting. This study employed a qualitative approach to explore the motivations and satisfaction of individuals with lower limb loss engaging with a prosthetic service in Mombasa, Kenya. In-depth interviews were conducted over Microsoft Teams with 10 lower limb prosthesis users and thematic analysis was applied. Five key themes emerged: acceptance, self-determination, hope, clinician relationship and perception. These findings demonstrate the importance of hopeful thinking and a supportive community in overcoming physical and stigmatising challenges. The findings further highlight the value of the service provider relationship beyond just prescribing an assistive device.

  • Opportunities and challenges for disability inclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Mikaela Patrick, Dr Giulia Barbareschi
    Feb. 19, 2023

    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.

  • Why inclusive design is important for climate and crisis resilience in cities

    Global Disability Innovation Hub, Iain McKinnon, Mikaela Patrick, Annamae Muldowney
    Dec. 12, 2022

    Cities worldwide are significantly exposed to the growing impact of climate crisis, from increased heat, intense weather changes, to disasters. At the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) we believe that in order to achieve resilience, everyone in the community must be enabled to respond to climate change and crisis on an equal basis.  This is the foundation of inclusive climate resilience.  With 80% of disabled people living in climate-vulnerable countries, embedding inclusive design into climate and crisis resilience strategies in cities are key to achieving this. Find out more in this article featured on The Access Association.

  • Assistive Technology Data & Insights Portal - a vision for a highly accessible tool to serve the global Assistive Technology ecosystem

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    Jan. 26, 2023
    United Kingdon

    Globally the AT space is developing rapdily, and alongside this comes a growing demand for highly accessible data & insight portal to serve the wider ecosystem, stakeholders, researchers and decision makers. Without a relevant and accessible source of data and insight, participants are struggling to connect, engage, research, invest, source, scout, procure, and contribute to the evolution of this nascent and rapidly growing global ecosystem. We are looking to change this.

  • New Assistive Tech Impact Fund playbook - a unique window into our experiences

    Global Disability Innovation Hub, Brink
    Jan. 23, 2023
    Kenya

    Set up as a trial to learn if grant capital + venture building support would help African Assistive Tech (AT) ventures overcome the problems that stood in the way of scaling, the Assistive Tech Impact Fund playbook is a unique window into this UK aid funded project. It exlores the challenges, learnings & mechanisms for Assistive Tech ventures entering and scaling new markets in Africa.

  • Medellín announced as the sixth AT2030 Inclusive Infrastructure Case Study

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    Nov. 15, 2022
    Colombia

    The Global Disability Innovation Hub is delighted to announce that under the UK Aid-funded AT2030 programme, the sixth and final case study of the Inclusive Infrastructure sub-programme will take place in the city of Medellín, Colombia. The case study will start in January 2023 with the aim of launching the report in early summer.

  • Inclusive Infrastructure Case Study is launched in Nairobi, a city experiencing rapid growth and investment in infrastructure

    Global Disability Innovation Hub, Kilimanjaro Blind Trust, Kounkuey Design Initiative
    Nov. 14, 2022
    Kenya

    Nairobi is a city of innovation - business opportunities and the start-up ecosystem is vibrant. Kenya has a strong legal framework to create inclusive cities and further disability inclusion. There is clear appetite from Government to take action represented through these legal frameworks, but there remains lots to be done.

  • 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

    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.

  • Assistive technology access gets a boost thanks to £12 million investment from the LEGO Foundation, five years after AT2030 begins

    Global Disability Innovation Hub, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Vicki Austin, Frederic Seghers
    March 2, 2023

    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.

  • What is Assistive Tech, who is it for, and what does it enable?

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    Feb. 19, 2023

    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).

  • Opportunities and challenges for disability inclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic

    Giulia Barbareschi, Mikaela Patrick
    Feb. 19, 2023

    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.

  • Allied Health Profession Day

    Global Disability Innovation Hub, Kate Mattick
    Oct. 14, 2022
    United Kingdom

    In this blog Kate Mattick, an Allied Health Professional (AHP) and GDI Hub team member, shares her reflections on working as a physiotherapist and the challenges when people who may need AT don't have access. Kate explains who AHPs are, their role in AT delivery and how the new Training in Assistive Products, to be launched by the WHO, is so promising in creating effective AT service models.

  • Wazi: An AT impact story

    Kate Mattick, Louise Gebbett
    March 28, 2023

    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

  • Koalaa, an AT impact story

    Kate Mattick
    March 28, 2023
    Sierra Leone

    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

  • Signs TV Case Study

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    Feb. 27, 2023
    Kenya

    Signs Media TV was launched in 2015 when the company applied to the Communication Authority of Kenya for permission to run a television station broadcasting in sign language and was granted the permission. In February 2017, Signs Media started broadcasting on free-to-air platforms – Signs TV and is also found on channels like GoTV and StarTimes. The platform broadcasts in Kenyan sign language with voice as an override, airing films, movies, music (both gospel and secular), and Bible interpretation. Its main objectives are to educate, inform, and entertain in sign language, by extension enhancing disability and the deaf culture, where 80% of the programs are hosted by persons with disabilities.

  • Video: Inclusive Public Space in Kelayan Barat

    Kota Kita
    Feb. 13, 2023
    Indonesia

    This video takes a look at the constructed public space in Kelayan Barat. Residents and stakeholders share the experience of designing and constructing the inclusive public space, some of the challenges they encountered along the way and the impact it has had on the community.

Funded by

Led by

All Partners