Highlights
All Impact Stories
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Empowering OPDs to Lead Change. Teresiah's story
Global Disability Innovation HubJune 5, 2025KenyaCase Studies and ReportsIn this video, hear from Teressia Wamboi from Coast Celebral Palsy FDN as she shares insights from our on-the-ground assessment. Discover how these findings are shaping targeted capacity-building interventions designed to empower OPDs with the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to drive change in their communities.
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Empowering OPDs to Lead Change Emiliy Juma's story
Global Disability Innovation HubJune 5, 2025KenyaCase Studies and ReportsIn this video, hear from Emily Juma, director at Amazing Group for Persons with Disabilities from Mombasa county as she shares insights from our on-the-ground assessment. Discover how these findings are shaping targeted capacity-building interventions designed to empower OPDs with the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to drive change in their communities.
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Empowering OPDs to Lead Change. George'story
Global Disability Innovation HubJune 5, 2025KenyaCase Studies and ReportsIn Kenya, KBTA in partnership with the Global Disability Innovation Hub carried out a comprehensive needs assessment in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu to understand the real-world challenges OPDs face. This process included focus group discussions with 84 OPDs and a nationwide survey completed by 209 organisations. Here is Geroge Ocholla from Nairobi speaking during the OPD needs assessment drive.
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Kenyan para athletes
Harrison KamauMay 1, 2025KenyaAlongside Paris 2024 we explored innovative mechanisms to amplify para sport activities and drive change. Working alongside Kenyan athletes and the youth movement and award-winning media house Shujaaz – we were able to reach new audiences with the aim of dismantling stereotypes and sharing first person narratives of entrepreneurship, sporting achievement and community participation. Thought the narrative of successful para-athletes we have looked to spark youth interest to expanding the pipeline of future sporting talent. A vivid illustration of these efforts can be seen in the experiences of two Kenyan para-athletes who competed on the international stage at Paris 2024 – and were part of the team that ensured Kenya’s most decorated Paralympic team since 2008 Beijing. Samson Ojuka a long-jumper and sprinter. Here are the stories of the two para athletes.
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Amplifying Para Athlete Voices Through Radio Drama.
Story WorskshopApril 22, 2025MalawiIn the lead up to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games six episodes of the popular Malawian radio drama series, Zimachitika (These Things Happen) were broadcast as a creative way of building interest in Para sport. In Malawi, radio remains a cornerstone of communication, with a listenership rate of 71.2% of the national population . This makes it the most consumed and trusted source of information in the country. With 76 licensed radio stations, ranging from national to community levels, radio has the unparalleled ability to reach diverse audiences. For 28 years, programs like Zimachitika, produced by Story Workshop Educational Trust (SWET), have leveraged this reach to address pressing social issues, including discrimination against people with disabilities. By weaving authentic narratives into its storytelling, the drama not only entertains but also educates and challenges societal biases, a strategy known as ‘edutainment’.
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Impact Story: Amplifying Para Athlete Voices Through Radio Drama
Loughborough University, University of Malawi, Malawi Paralympic CommitteeMarch 31, 2025Gladys Chiwinja, a Malawian Para-athlete specializing in sitting volleyball and shot put, and Innocent Katsache, a scriptwriter at Story Workshop Educational Trust (SWET), sat down to discuss how sparking interest through radio drama contributed to challenging discrimination.
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Kenyan para athlete Samson Ojuka
Harrison KamauMarch 31, 2025KenyaSamson who was born with Erb's palsy, competes in para athletics classifications that typically involve athletes with lower-limb differences or limitations. Born and raised in Kenya, Samson is based in Nairobi, where he trains under challenging conditions. He has been competing for close to a decade, having started his athletic journey in secondary school as a 100-meter sprinter before coaches recognized his exceptional takeoff power and fluid stride perfect traits for the long jump.
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Kenyan Para athelete Stency Neema
Harrison KamauMarch 31, 2025KenyaAlongside Paris 2024 we explored innovative mechanisms to amplify para sport activities and drive change. Working alongside Kenyan athletes and the youth movement and award-winning media house Shujaaz, we were able to reach new audiences with the aim of dismantling stereotypes and sharing first person narratives of entrepreneurship, sporting achievement and community participation. Through the narrative of successful para-athletes, we have looked to spark youth interest to expanding the pipeline of future sporting talent. A vivid illustration of these efforts can be seen in the experiences of Stency Neema, a Kenyan para-athlete, para-badminton, and para-taekwondo star.
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Bala Murugan
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 28, 2025As mobile phones increasingly incorporate assistive features, they offer more accessible options for communication and daily activities. However, understanding how these technologies are used in low- and middle-income countries, where specialised devices may be less available, is crucial.
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Aakash’s Journey with Transtibial Prosthesis
RAM CHANDRA THAPAMarch 28, 2025After losing his leg in a devastating accident during Nepal’s COVID-19 lockdown, Aakash faced immense challenges accessing care and continuing his education. Through the AT2030 programme, he received a 3D-printed prosthetic limb, significantly improving his mobility and independence. His story illustrates the transformative potential of digital assistive technology in low-resource settings.
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Man Kumari, 11 years old’s Journey: Walking Towards Independence with a 3D-Printed Prosthetic Leg
RAM CHANDRA THAPAMarch 28, 2025At just 11 years old, Man Kumari from rural Nepal now walks to school on her own using a 3D-printed prosthetic leg provided through the AT2030 programme. After losing her leg at age five, she spent years reliant on her mother to move around. The new device, designed and fitted using digital technology, has transformed her daily life, enabling her to attend school, help at home, and play with friends. Her story reflects both the promise and ongoing challenges of delivering sustainable, child-focused assistive technology in remote, climate-vulnerable regions.
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Sanaullah
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 28, 2025Mobile as AT explores how mobile phones, with their built-in assistive features, can improve communication and daily activities for people with disabilities. By examining the impact of mobile phones on people with hearing and visual impairments, the project aims to promote greater independence and inclusion, highlighting the real-world benefits of mobile devices as assistive technology.
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Joseph Etyang: Mobile as AT
Joseph EtyangMarch 28, 2025Joseph Etyang, a Deaf professional in Nairobi, shares how a specialised phone from Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa has transformed his daily life. With real-time captions, sound alerts, and accessible messaging, he can now communicate more independently; at work, at home, and beyond.
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Charles Njoogu
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 28, 2025At GDI Hub, we are proud to support Charles Njoogu, a deaf church leader and politician from Kajiado County. Charles faced major barriers at political meetings where interpreters were not provided. With assistive technology like Live Transcribe, he was able to fully participate, advocate for accessibility, and eventually became the Secretary for Disability Affairs in his county. His leadership journey shows the power of accessible technology in breaking barriers. Charles continues to champion greater inclusion and calls for innovations like sign-to-speech technology to create a future where deaf leaders can thrive without limitations.
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Paralympics and Inclusive Sport
Maryam BandukdaSept. 17, 2024GlobalMore than 4,000 disabled athletes competed in Paris. Each of these athletes have a story of passion, of resilience, and overcoming barriers. We would love to hear stories from disabled people who are passionate about sports. Do you have a story to share?
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Changing perspective of Deaf and disabled people in sport and art: London 2012 – Choreographer Mark Smith reflects on his experience of the powerful legacy of a Paralympic Opening Ceremony
Global Disability Innovation HubSept. 3, 2024London 2012 – Choreographer Mark Smith reflects on his experience of the legacy of a Paralympic Opening Ceremony Changing perspective of Deaf and disabled people in sport and art look at what made the opening ceremony of the Paralympics London 2012 so special , and how it changed people's perspective of Deaf and disabled people especially in sport and art.
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Spotlight on Sierra Leone – Meet Santos
KoalaaMarch 31, 2024Sierra LeoneThere is a significant need for prosthetics, coupled with a lack of access and also a strong stigma around having limb differences. Below is a video of Santos.
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The Story of Khadijatu Bangura
KoalaaMarch 31, 2024Sierra LeoneGlobally, there remains a significant need for affordable and comfortable prosthetics that can aid independence, inclusivity and health equity. This is particularly true in areas that have experienced conflict, and within lower/middle income countries. Working with governments, charities and other key partners on the ground to provide access to our prosthetics, in areas of the world that need them the most, is the focus of our dedicated Global Access Team. We have been lucky enough to secure a grant as part of the Assistive Technology Impact Fund (ATIF), under the banner of AT2030, which aims to increase access to assistive technology of all kinds, all over the world.
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Digital assistive technology - Joseph's story
Harrison KamauMarch 8, 2024KenyaJohn Mwangi's story serves as a realistic portrayal of the intersection between technology and disability, showcasing the everyday impact on individuals' lives. It echoes a larger narrative unfolding on a global scale, where smartphones are emerging as powerful tools to transform the lives of persons with disabilities.
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A Journey with Technology
Harrison KamauMarch 8, 2024KenyaWhat makes Felista's adjustment remarkable is the user-friendly design of her device, especially its short applications that simplify tasks, such as efficient navigation. The training she received on utilizing voice commands with Google has proven to be a positive change, enabling her to effortlessly send voice messages.
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Impact Stories & Community Collaboration
Storytelling can be a great tool to amplify the voices of disabled people and have their voices heard. Building on our previous work, this project explores ways for creative expressions of disabled people’s lived experiences through multi-sensory impactful storytelling.
Storytelling is the oldest form of knowledge sharing and learning that transcends geographies, cultures, and generations. In African and indigenous cultures, the storytelling tradition sustains communities, validates the experiences of indigenous people and nurtures inter-generational relationships and knowledge sharing. Telling stories also helps regain a sense of belonging, collective identity, and connection to the land.
Storytelling can be a great tool to amplify the voices of disabled people and have their voices heard. Building on our previous work, this project explores ways for creative expressions of disabled people’s lived experiences through multi-sensory storytelling. Sharing experiences and stories this way is the first step towards helping individuals develop a voice and skills to advocate for their rights and access to AT. We also explore ways to use technology to amplify these stories to create a positive impact on disability inclusion and improved AT provisions across LMICs.
Research
Social Media as Disability Self-advocacy Tool
This project explores the role of social media as a self-advocacy tool for disabled people. Using a mixed-methods human-centred approach, this project will generate in-depth insight into how disabled people use social media for advocate for disability rights, the barriers and facilitators that impact socia media use, and a toolkit to better serve disability storytelling through social media.
Activities
14 March 2023: AT Storytelling Workshop with International Disability Alliance, Geneva, Switzerland
Outputs
- Maryam Bandukda, Catherine Holloway, Diane Bell, Victoria Austin, "Challenges to disabled people’s participation in digital activism: A global south perspective", CHI 2023 Workshop: Supporting Social Movements through HCI and Design Research, https://sites.google.com/view/hcisocialmovements
- Maryam Bandukda, Catherine Holloway, "Bridging the disability divide in the global south through digital disability inclusion", CHI 2023 Workshop: HCI Across Borders: Towards Global Solidarity, https://hcixb.org/
People
