Thematic Public Goods

This sub-programme explores the intersecting and systemic challenges experienced by disabled people in AT access, looking at enabling environments.

Enabling access to AT through systems change

This sub-programme explores the intersecting and systemic challenges experienced by disabled people in AT access, looking at enabling environments through three workstreams: 

• Inclusive cities and infrastructure 
• Including climate and crisis resilience, with a focus on cities, infrastructure and AT 
• Gender 
• Local production 

Building evidence and driving action we’ll develop a global strategy on Inclusive Climate Resilient Infrastructure - creating models for catalytic support and pilots to drive evidence-based solutions at scale.   

[1] Inclusive cities and infrastructure 

This workstream positions cities and infrastructure as key enablers of AT access, use and enjoyment. Cities - increasingly seen as sites of innovation and leadinfg solutions to global challenges – are key to a more inclusive planet and inclusive futures for AT users. To create more inclusive and accessible cities and infrastructure, we need evidence on what works and what good looks like, that is co-created with those who know best – championing local solutions and disabled-led solutions.  

AT2030 Inclusive Cities has led research in 6 cities worldwide, to gather insights on common challenges, innovation and opportunities, culminating in a Global Action Report and a Global Comparison Report. All developed with local partners.The workstream is now testing the methodology of the Global Action Report through a Pilot in Addis Ababa, through research and catalytic support. 

While locally-led solutions are fundamental, we also look at the global picture and work with partners on the global advocacy for inclusive cities, ensuring AT users are included in how inclsuive cities are envisioned. This work takes us to World Urban Forum, COP and other global events to shape the conversation on what works for inclusive cities. 

Key highlights include: 

• The publication of the Global Action Report on Inclusive Design, a tool to guide cities with practical starting points. 
• Leading the development of the first dedicated space to disability and accessibility at World Urban Forum 12 in Cairo in 2024, through the Accessibility 2030 pavilion, in partnership with IDA, World Blind Union and BMZ plus supporting partners.
• Gathering city-to-city conversations in London in 2023. VIDEO 
• Learning what inclusive innovation looks like in cities. 
• Lego and play.

[2] Climate and crisis resilience, with a focus on cities, infrastructure and AT 

Our research on cities and infrastructure made clear the significant impact the climate crisis has on the accessibility of our cities and AT access. Disabled people continue to be left out of climate solutions and climate funding rarely considers the inclusion of disabled people as a priority. Our research seeks to change this, demonstrating how and why disabled people and the use of and access to AT must be considered in climate solutions. We identified that the lack of inclusive design and accessibility of climate solutions is a major barrier to inclusive climate action and that city-scale action has great potential to drive change for inclusive climate solutions with equity at their core. 

Highlights include: 

• Leading the first disability, resilience and cities side event at COP26 in Glasgow in partnership with FCDO, ADB, and the Major of Banjarmasin, Indonesia. 
• The production of a video on ‘Disabled Voices in Climate Change’ in Indonesia, with Kota Kita 
  
  
• Continue to lead the conversation on disability inlusive and climate resilience cities at COP28, COP30.  
• The publication of our white paper on disability inclusive local climate action at COP30, setting a pathway for our research.  

[3] Gender 

Is embedded across the AT2030 programme.

[4] Local production

Find out more about our research across local production.