AT Storytelling Workshop with the International Disability Alliance and ATScale

March 14, 2023 | Geneva, Switzerland

We ran our first AT storytelling workshop in collaboration with ATScale as part of the Bridge CRPD-SDGs Training of Trainers Module A in Geneva, Switzerland, organised by the International Disability Alliance (IDA), the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) and supported by partners including the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK (FCDO).

The workshop objectives were to give an overview of AT globally and AT provisions across Lower-Middle Income Countries and discern participants’ understanding of and challenges related to AT provision in their countries and regions. The workshop comprised knowledge-sharing and interactive sessions, including stakeholder mapping and developing storytelling skills for AT advocacy. 

The workshop began with a knowledge-sharing session on the WHO Priority Assistive Product List and the potential impact of AT innovation across emerging markets globally. The workshop reiterated the transformative impact of AT throughout the life course, building on the insights from our Global Report on AT. AT is a fundamental human right that enables disabled people to exercise their right to education, work, leisure, and participation in community and citizenship activities. There is a growing need for AT across LMIC, yet, AT provision is low despite being a core part of the UN CRPD. Access to AT has benefits beyond the individual and can lead to a sustained positive impact on the individual’s family, community, and wider society.

The interactive session focused on the AT needs across LMICs and the challenges to AT access. The participants worked in groups to discuss the below questions:

• What is the AT situation in your country/region?
• What needs to change to make an impact?
• Who are the main stakeholders, and how can they influence change?

The general consensus across groups was that the prevailing conditions around access to AT needed concentrated effort and improvement. Primary concerns were the lack of affordable and high-quality options for persons with disabilities across different constituencies and economic groups. States lacked disaggregated data on the need for AT, leading to rural areas experiencing a crucial need for awareness and access. Participants from Latin American countries also presented good practices on how they are trying to meet the needs around AT.