Publications
-
AT2030 Venture Spotlight Series featuring DeafTawk
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 26, 2026Case Studies and ReportsDeafTawk operates a platform for real-time sign language interpretation, designed to make communication access more immediate and reliable. Operating across multiple countries, the company connects Deaf users to qualified interpreters via mobile video, reducing the need for advance booking and enabling access in situations where support is often unavailable. Their work focuses on addressing the gaps in how interpretation services are delivered today,across healthcare, employment, and public services, while building toward a model where technology can extend access alongside human interpreters.
-
AT2030 Venture Spotlight Series featuring Shonaquip
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 26, 2026Case Studies and ReportsShonaquip is a South Africa-based social enterprise working at the intersection of assistive technology, disability inclusion, and systems change. Over more than 30 years, they have developed an approach shaped by a simple reality: providing a device is not enough. Their work spans the design and manufacturing of mobility and posture support devices, alongside clinical services, training, and long-term engagement with the systems that determine whether those devices are used safely and effectively over time.
-
AT2030 Venture Spotlight Series featuring Thinkerbell Labs
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 26, 2026Case Studies and ReportsThinkerbell Labs is a disability-tech social enterprise focused on how children with visual impairments learn to read. Their core product, Annie, is designed so that children can learn Braille and early literacy more independently, without needing a specialist teacher at every moment. Recognised as one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions (2022), Annie is now used in over 300 centres across 26 Indian states and has supported more than 10,000 children. The model is beginning to extend internationally through partnerships with schools and distributors.
-
AT2030 Venture Spotlight Series featuring JOGO Health
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 26, 2026Case Studies and ReportsJOGO Health is a digital therapeutics company developing a platform for chronic pain and neuromuscular conditions that aims to reduce reliance on medication and invasive procedures. Operating across the US and India, the company combines wearable muscle sensors, guided therapy, and remote clinician oversight to support ongoing treatment beyond the clinic. Their work focuses on extending care between appointments, enabling patients to continue structured therapy at home while remaining connected to their clinical team. In doing so, JOGO responds to a growing need for non-pharmacological approaches to long-term condition management.
-
AT2030 Venture Spotlight Series featuring SynPhNe
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 26, 2026Case Studies and ReportsSynPhNe is a neurological rehabilitation company developing technology to deliver high-intensity, personalised therapy for stroke and other neurological conditions. Founded in Singapore and extending to the US and India markets, the company has built a platform that captures brain and muscle signals in real time to guide recovery. Their work focuses on extending effective rehabilitation beyond specialist clinical settings, enabling structured, data-driven therapy in both clinics and home environments.
-
AT2030 Frontiers symposium awardees
Royal Academy of EngineeringMarch 26, 2026NepalCase Studies and ReportsAwarded in December 2025 to participants of the AT2030 Frontiers symposium "Inclusive innovation in action: community-led Assistive Technology solutions in local context", held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 8 to 10 October 2025.
-
Harmonising assistive technology access data for evidence-based decision-making: guidance and implications
Vicki Austin, Catherine Holloway, Jamie DanemayerMarch 26, 2026GlobalAcademic Research PublicationsPopulation ageing demands that governments plan proactively for a growing number of older people and an increasing demand for products and services that enable their independence and participation. This article is structured as follows: first, the authors introduce the importance of harmonisation in the AT data space and the overall aims of this proposal. The Methods describe how commonly used, nonidentical AT assessment modules may be harmonised in practice, using the proposed logic. Implications of the broad applications of this logic are described, in terms of research and innovation, new data collection, and policy decision-making. Finally, a reflection on the limitations of this logic and the potential for harmonisation to improve evidence-based decision-making in the AT sector conclude this.
-
AT2030 Venture Spotlight Series featuring Participant Assistive Products
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 26, 2026Case Studies and ReportsParticipant Assistive Products is a wheelchair manufacturer focused on designing mobility devices for real-world conditions. Their approach centres on durability, repairability, and affordability, with products built to function reliably in the environments where they are used.
-
Strengthening OPD Capacity for Inclusive Development in Nairobi County, Kenya
Kilimanjaro Blind TrustMarch 25, 2026KenyaCase Studies and ReportsThe Nairobi workshop revealed a system already in motion. OPDs are adapting, questioning, and beginning to reimagine inclusion in practical terms. With the support of a structured capacity-building framework, this momentum can be sustained and scaled, positioning OPDs not just as participants but as drivers of inclusive development in Nairobi and beyond.
-
Old biases in new data: Inclusive preprocessing to create disability representation in synthetic datasets
Jamie Danemayer, Vicki AustinMarch 25, 2026Academic Research PublicationsPopulation-based data disaggregated by disability are essential for informed policymaking, especially for disability-inclusive development and the realisation of the rights of persons with disabilities. Both areas rely on accurate evidence and its efficient use, especially in the current global context of resource constriction. Disability inclusive data, and inclusive disaggregated data sets more widely can enable assessment of whether people with disabilities participate in society on equal terms with those without disabilities, as well as supporting difficult decision making about how and what to prioritise in a resource poor context.
-
Strengthening OPD Capacity for Inclusive Development in Kisumu County, Kenya
Kilimanjaro Blind TrustMarch 25, 2026KenyaCase Studies and ReportsOrganisations working to bridge this gap face persistent challenges: gaps in digital literacy, limited access to assistive technologies, fragile organisational systems, and low visibility in decision-making spaces. Insights from a workshop convening 15 local leaders revealed a critical shift needed: moving from participation to influence. These findings directly inform the OPD Capacity Strengthening Framework, led by Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa (KBTA) and the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub). By strengthening governance, advocacy, digital capacity, and partnerships, the framework equips organisations to drive sustained, strategic influence in inclusive development.
-
Access to funding: Good Practice Guidance from & for Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDS) in Low-Middle Income Countries (LMICs)
Rebecca Joskow, Anna Landre, Pollyanna WardropMarch 20, 2026AT2030 ResourcesThis guidance, “Access to funding: Good practice guidance from and for Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)”, was developed under the UK International Development funded AT2030 programme, led by GDI Hub. It is part of a wider project to understand and improve access to funding for OPDs, in support of a fairer world for people with disabilities.
-
AT2030 Frontiers symposium report
Royal Academy of EngineeringMarch 20, 2026NepalCase Studies and ReportsWe are delighted to share the full insights, commitments, and emerging ideas from the event - you can access the event report now. The theme Bridging Global and Local Innovation captured the spirit of the event: a call for a middle path where global collaboration is grounded in local creativity.
-
Access to funding: Good practice guidance from & for OPDs - Easy Read
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 20, 2026GlobalAT2030 ResourcesWe want to help OPDs do their important work making things fairer for disabled people. This document shares advice from OPDs around the world. We hope it will help you get funding for your OPD.
-
When Trauma Meets Assistive Technology: Emerging Faultlines from Global Expert Interviews
Preetham Nagaraj, Catherine Holloway, Maryam BandukdaMarch 18, 2026GlobalAcademic Research PublicationsAssistive Technology (AT) has largely been designed around needs that, even when they change over time, are relatively predictable; yet trauma produces disruptions that are rapid, context-dependent, and culturally mediated. This paper asks: what conceptual tensions emerge when trauma recovery technology is viewed through an AT lens, and what do those tensions reveal about the limits and future direction of the field?
-
Bridging the Digital Divide: Enhancing Digital Inclusion of Blind or Partially Sighted and Deaf or Hard of Hearing Individuals in Low- and Middle-Income Countries through Smartphones as Assistive Technology
Vicki Austin, Catherine Holloway, Dr Giulia Barbareschi, Laxmi Gunupudi, Vinicius Delgado Ramos, Satish Mishra, Maryam Bandukda, Amit PrakashMarch 17, 2026GlobalAcademic Research PublicationsIn this study, we developed a two-day scaffolded digital skills training intervention for mobile literacy for people who are blind or partially sighted (BPS) and deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) across three research settings: Brazil, India, and Kenya. Using an adapted Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire (MDPQ) administered at pre- and post-intervention, we measured the impact of the digital skills training intervention on the perceived proficiency in smartphone use.
-
When Sport Opens a Door: Reflections on disability, stigma and Para sport in Malawi
Loughborough UniversityMarch 17, 2026MalawiAT2030 ResourcesStories about disability and sport are often told through moments of success or celebration. This conversation between Timveni Radio and TV journalist Mphatso Mnelemba and sitting volleyball player and fashion designer Callista Mdumuka offers something different. Through reflections on school, gender, disability, sport, stigma and everyday life, the discussion reveals both the hope and uncertainty that can shape participation in para sport in Malawi. It is also a conversation that highlights the role journalists and storytellers can play in creating space for experiences and voices that are often overlooked.
-
Ndingathe I'MPOSSIBLE Teacher Handbook
Malawi Paralympic CommitteeMarch 17, 2026MalawiAT2030 ResourcesInternational Paralympic Committee’s I’MPOSSIBLE education programme was first introduced in Malawi in 2019 through implementation by the Malawi Paralympic Committee. The programme aimed to use the power of Paralympic sport and athlete storytelling to challenge perceptions of disability and promote inclusion through sport and physical education. Developed by the Malawi Paralympic Committee in close collaboration with the University of Malawi, this tool is intended to support more independent and widespread use by teachers, schools, and community organisations across the country.
-
Supporting the support systems: Integrating assistive technology access into aging policy frameworks
Jamie Danemayer, Catherine Holloway, Vicki Austin, Shereen HusseinMarch 12, 2026GlobalAcademic Research PublicationsIndividuals who can obtain and effectively use assistive products, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, and accessible software, are understood to have reliable access to assistive technology (AT). Such access is increasingly recognised as critical support in the context of global population ageing, where the prevalence of functional difficulties is rising and the demand for supportive solutions and services is expanding. In response, AT outcomes such as need, use, and unmet need are more often included in routine data collection systems, including censuses and household surveys. Similarly, dedicated surveys, such as the WHO Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA), have been successfully administered in dozens of countries, expanding the portfolio of available AT data.
-
Unlocking Investment in Assistive Technology: Blended Finance and the Path to Market Scale
Global Disability Innovation HubFeb. 25, 2026GlobalCase Studies and ReportsAssistive technology — such as wheelchairs, hearing devices, glasses and communication tools — enables disabled people, older adults and others with support needs to participate fully in society. More than 2.5 billion people need AT, yet fewer than one in seven can access it. The issue is not a lack of demand or innovation, but a lack of suitable finance to help effective solutions scale. This report argues that blended finance can unlock the AT market by combining philanthropic, public and private capital to reduce risk and attract investment. Drawing on ten years of GDI Hub research and engagement with more than 150 AT ventures, it sets out practical recommendations to expand access globally. The pipeline exists, the mechanisms are available, and the opportunity is within reach.
Previous PageNext Page