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Logo of the title of the project: fit for purpose prosthetics. For is represented by the number four which in the center has a hand with half an arm that appear to be a prosthetic.

Country: Jordan, Uganda, United Kingdom

Fit-for-purpose, affordable body-powered prostheses

Fit-for-purpose, affordable body-powered prostheses is designing upper limb prostheses that are both low cost and fit for their purpose and circumstance. The project is funded through the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Global Challenges Research Fund.

A close up of an industrial machine leaving a dark pattern on a sheet of perspex/glass.

Country: United Kingdom

MakeSpace at HereEast

GDI hub has joined forces with the Surgical Robot Vision Lab and the Autonomous Manufacturing Lab to create a shared space that brings together a wealth of expertise as well as equipment, improving knowledge exchange and increasing collaboration opportunities.

Affordable powered mobility toy for young children, with panels for children to paint on and a simple seat design.

Country: India, Kenya

Powered mobility for young children everywhere

Young children everywhere need to be mobile - to be able to explore their world, make choices about what they want to do, who they want to play with, and where they want to go.

A picture of a computer model of a dynamic seat for children with severe movement disorders

Country: United Kingdom

Dynamic seating for children with severe movement disorders

GDI Hub is working with Designability to evaluate a new kind of seat that moves with the child and enables them to explore movement while they are seated and well supported

Women standing and man in wheelchair using a mobile device next to an art sculpture

Disability Interactions (DIX) Manifesto

Disability Interaction (DIX) puts disability front and center in the design process, and in so doing aims to create accessible, creative new HCI solutions that will be better for everyone, including poor communities, which disabled people are more likely to be part of.

Country: United Kingdom

CROWDBOT: A crowd-aware shared-control wheelchair navigation system

CROWDBOT will enable mobile robots to navigate autonomously and assist humans in crowded areas, rather than simply stopping when the going gets tough.

Country: Indonesia, Sierra Leone

Community-led Solutions: Assistive Tech in informal settlements

Researchers from the Development Planning Unit at UCL, along with Leonard Cheshire, are working with the GDI Hub to undertake an exciting programme working with communities living in conditions of informality (often referred to as slums) in Freetown, Sierra Leone and Banjarmasin, Indonesia.

A computer generated 3D model of a wheelchair on a blue chequered background.

Country: United Kingdom

Power-up! - Fuelling the next generation of assistive technologies

A research project to understand how and when manual wheelchair users need and use power assistance and to determine if fuel cell technology is suitable for the power requirements of assistive technology, specifically wheelchairs.

A computer-generated frame model of a right arm with thumb, index and second fingers extended. Multi-coloured triangles surround the design.

Country: United Kingdom

Body 2.0 - Extending ability through 3D printing technology

This project looked at identity and the changing perception of disabled people and disability. The primary focus was prosthetics and the use of new technologies including 3D printing to democratise prosthetics and allow individuals to customise their assistive devices in a timely and affordable way.

A female wheelchair user in dark clothes and beanie hat ascending a ramp from right to left in a sports hall.

Country: United Kingdom

ARCCS - Accessible Routes from Crowdsourced Cloud Services

Ongoing research where we have developed a new technique for wheelchair localisation and surface determination using a fusion of GPS/IMU information and machine learning. Data captured helps wheelchair users travel in a more effective ways and share data to demonstrate accessibility issues and encourage improvements.

Group photo of AT 2030 members

AT2030: Open Up Market Access

To align and consolidate global Assistive Technology efforts as well as to lay the foundations for systems-level change on a global scale this sub-programme will provide a set of global benchmarks and standards for Assistive Technology. The sub-programme will develop models of integrated Assistive Technology service provision, including screening and training tools; develop procurement tools; as well as a mobile tool to identify population needs for Assistive Technology. This programme is being co-led by WHO, UNICEF, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

An image of the Brain.

Country: United Kingdom

Artificial Intelligence for Mental Wellbeing Monitoring

The aim of this project to build new low-cost approaches to more reliable mental wellbeing measurements using mobile sensing technology, supporting unconstrained and potentially a variety of everyday situations.

Audience sitting down at the WHO conference room

Country: Switzerland

GReAT Summit Summary

On the 22nd and 23rd of August 2019 several members of GDI Hub were invited to Geneva to take part in the consultation for the Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT) organized by the WHO. The scope of the consultation was to bring together academics, practitioners, policy makers, and assistive technology users from different countries in the world to help shape the content for the Global Report on Assistive Technology that will be published by 2021.

Giulia presenting in a lecture room. Screen shows projection of a PPT presentation

Country: Italy

AAATE Conference Summary

The Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe held its annual conference, this year with a focus on Global Challenges in Assistive Technology, in Bologna (Italy) between the 27th and the 30th of August. Researchers from GDI Hub and partner organizations including the Clinton Health Access Initiative and ATscale organised a special session focused on sharing the work carried out so far as part of the AT2030 programme.

Our Director Vicki Austin speaking in Paris

Country: France

Paris 2024 - the first Innovation Games?

Paris 2024, Disability Innovation, GDI Hub, London 2012

Iain McKinnon with three female colleagues from BPA and British Embassy posing for a photo in front of a large bright window.

Country: Japan

Tokyo 2020 - Inclusive Design Advice

GDI Hub share their knowledge and experience including helping the British Paralympic Association (BPA) with their base camp preparations for Tokyo 2020.

Colour Image of Iain McKinnon

Country: Georgia, Philippines

Asian Development Bank - Inclusive Tourism 

GDI Hub provide inclusive design advice to Asian Development Bank (ADB), aiming to address accessible tourism in Georgia

Iain McKinnon addresses a crowded seminar room in the background there are 3 banners promoting sport and creativity.

Country: Japan

Tokyo 2020 - Knowledge Exchange

In July 2018, the GDI Hub team were invited to Tokyo by the British Embassy and British Council to share our knowledge and experience from the London 2012 Paralympic Games and subsequent Paralympic Legacy programme.

An ugandan boy in a full classroom raises his hand to ask something to teacher.

Country: Uganda

Inclusive Education in Uganda: The Impact of Assistive Technology

The project focuses on the impact of assistive technology and accessible learning materials in promoting participation of children with disabilities in Uganda. This project aims to provide support to overcome barriers to education through assistive technology and to develop the evidence base for how technology helps inclusion in the classroom.

Group photo of AT Scale members

AT2030 Subprogramme: Support to ATscale the Global Assistive Technology Partnership

To accelerate access to Assistive Technology, ATscale the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology was formally launched at the Global Disability Summit in 2018. The Partnership will catalyse change, amplify existing work, and coordinate access to Assistive Technology by tackling supply and demand side drivers to scale. The AT2030 programme will continue to support the development and implementation of ATscale.

Dr Dilisha Patel teaching the Disability, Design & Innovation MSc. She’s looking at a presentation on a large digital screen in a full classroom.

Country: United Kingdom

MSc Disability, Design and Innovation at UCL

We're looking for the next generation of pioneers in this groundbreaking field.

Lady in a wheelchair, wearing a bright orange top, holding a yellow water jug; a boy follows behind. They are in a street in India.

PhD Research Programme

Talented students are invited to propose a PhD research project in areas related to AI powered Physiological & Affective Computing, with the aim to create novel assistive technology and boost disability innovation.

Disabled Leaders Network title and logos

Disabled Leaders Network

A unique space for accelerating success, the Snowdon Disabled Leaders Network brings together exceptional disabled leaders to engage, build a community and share learnings.

PrimeVR2 Lgogo

Country: Global

Prime-VR2

The PrimeVR2 project is a Horizon 2020 project where commercial, academic and research teams are building a virtual reality platform that will allow people with a hyperkinetic movement disorder, people who have had a stroke, and people with a sports injury to play games and interact in a virtual environment for rehabilitation.

Group of wheelchair users and I2I project staff

Country: Bangladesh, Kenya

Innovation to Inclusion: i2i

i2i is a three-year programme focused on technological initiatives that directly improve access to paid private sector work for people with disabilities in Kenya and Bangladesh.

Country: India, United Kingdom

PhD Research: Erasable Tactile Doodling - Toodleoo

Designing a new way to produce erasable tactile drawings and graphics to present visualisations to blind and partially sighted students and professionals. The project uses smart materials and research on ways to make them operational. The final output will be particularly useful to understand STEM subjects and to express and communicate ideas and creativity.

Country: United Kingdom

PhD Research: Make It Visible - using 3D imaging and printing from microscopic

PhD student Kate Burton​ is conducting research on using 3D imaging and printing from microscopic images to provide tactile representations for visually impaired people. The aim is to take the world seen through a microscope and make it accessible to those with visual impairments​ using tactile 3D printed models​.

Country: Bangladesh

Mobile-powered employment opportunities for all; i2i challenge call for Bangladesh

Up to £20,000 is available to support winning applicants in the development of employment solutions focused around mobile in Bangladesh. Mobile technology can act as a bridge to employment opportunities by helping people learn skills, increasing awareness of job opportunities and helping to get and retain employment opportunities.

Country: United Kingdom

Mapping Multisensory Experiences at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were hosted at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) with the view of creating a dynamic new heart of east London. The park was designed to continue the legacy of the Paralympic Games and to create a diverse and inclusive space for all.

Our project contributes to this vision by (i) engaging the disabled community of east London in a conversation about their experiences and perceptions of the QEOP and then (ii) co-creating a multisensory representation of the experience of blind people as a reminder of diversity and inclusion at the park.

Local Production Local Solutions Grantee Map

Country: Africa, Nepal, Nigeria, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia

Local Production Local Solutions

Global logistics have been compromised by lockdowns and border controls across Africa and other low to middle-income countries (LMICs), leaving many businesses and citizens without key parts of their supply chain. This condition has exposed the rigid, inflexible state of production in many settings, demonstrating the need for locally resilient, flexible production ecosystems. LPLS is working to develop broader, restorative, and agile supply systems, while providing people with the life-saving health and community resources they need to face current restrictions.

A graphic detailing step by step smart liner techniques

Country: United Kingdom

Smart Prosthetic Liners

This current work looks to develop these capabilities in soft material technology, with: the development of a printable nanocomposite stretch sensor system; a low-cost digital method for casting bespoke prosthetic liners; a liner with an embedded stretch sensor for growth / volume tracking; a model liner with an embedded active cooling system.

Person holding up mobile phone and pointing at at. They are smiling

Country: Asia, Africa

AT2030

The UK Aid-funded AT2030 programme tests ‘what works’ to improve access to life-changing Assistive Technology (AT) for all. Operational in 40+ countries and working with more than 70 global delivery partners, AT2030 has reached 64 million people to date.

AT2030 creates deep community leadership and engagement to generate new evidence & insights, answering critical research questions and developing foundational methodologies to address intersectional challenges and research and evidence gaps. From incubating future tech inspired solutions to venture acceleration, AT2030 brings effective solutions to market - testing new mechanisms and ambitious scaling parthways - while strengthen systems to make inclusion a reality.

person in wheelchair staring into the distance

Country: Asia, Africa

Inclusive infrastructure and design

The Inclusive Infrastructure sub-programme, led by GDI Hub, recognises that the built environment, the world where we live, dictates our ability to use the AT we need. Access to the built environment is a fundamental human right, protected by the UN CRPD. However, the world we have designed and built presents a multitude of barriers and challenges for many, including persons with disabilities.

Two people are looking at a mobile phone

Country: Asia, Africa

Mobile as AT

Our work, in partnership with ATscale, Google, and local organisations in Kenya, India, and Brazil, builds on world-class research and deep community collaboration. Together, we’re exploring how mobile devices can support independence, learning, communication, and inclusion for people with disabilities.

Country: Asia, Africa

OPD Capacity Building

A collaborative initiative by Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa and the Global Disability Innovation Hub is empowering Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Kenya to become stronger advocates and leaders. Through tailored training in advocacy, digital skills, leadership, and organisational development, the programme is enhancing OPDs’ ability to influence policy, strengthen internal capacity, and drive disability-inclusive change.