Publications
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Building Common Ground from the Ground Up: Repair Infrastructure for Human–Agent Collaboration in African Languages
Gifty Ayoka, Vicki Austin, Catherine Holloway, Dr Giulia Barbareschi, Katrin Angerbauer, Richard CaveApril 13, 2026Academic Research PublicationsTheories of distributed teamwork portraying LLMs as remote collaborators are frequently constructed around an unexamined assumption: that collaborators share a natural language. For speakers of the vast majority of the world’s approximately 7,000 languages, this assumption does not hold—the LLM agents are not merely remote but functionally non-communicative as they do not share the languages of the users they supposedly collaborate with. Drawing on three years of work through the Centre for Digital Language Inclusion (CDLI), which has scaled community-driven speech recognition from one to thirteen African languages, we argue that linguistic asymmetry is the defining yet overlooked barrier to human–agent collaboration for the majority world.
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Beyond the Manual: Mapping Peer-Generated Content about Wheelchair Care and Adaptation on YouTube
Wen Mo, Catherine Holloway, Lan Xiao, Aneesha SinghApril 13, 2026GlobalAcademic Research PublicationsWheelchair users often face significant barriers to maintaining and adapting their chairs, from resource constraints to limited access to professional services. In response, many turn to social media platforms such as YouTube to share and learn practical knowledge. However, little is known about how wheelchair users document and exchange repair, maintenance, and customization practices online. To address this gap, we analyzed 290 YouTube videos alongside 800 sampled comments using thematic coding and statistical analysis.
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Global Insights Summary report
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 31, 2026GlobalAcademic Research PublicationsSmartphones now contain screen readers, magnification tools, live captions, real-time transcription, and navigation features that can perform many of the functions of traditional assistive products. Across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), people with disabilities are using these built-in features as their primary assistive technology, often because specialist AT is unavailable, unaffordable, or absent.
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Brazil Case Study Report
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 31, 2026BrazilAcademic Research PublicationsThis study investigated the feasibility and impact of providing smartphones and digital skills training to people with visual and hearing impairments in Brazil, a country where over 84% of the population uses the internet, but a significant digital divide persists for those with disabilities.
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India Case study report
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 31, 2026IndiaAcademic Research PublicationsThis summary presents findings from a 12-month research study conducted by the Centre for Accessibility in the Global South (CAGS) at IIIT Bangalore, in partnership with the Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) at University College London. The study examined the potential of Android smartphones to function as assistive technology (AT) for people with visual and hearing impairments in India.
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Pathways to Funding For Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in Low- and-Middle-Income Countries
Global Disability Innovation Hub, Rebecca Joskow, Anna Landre, Pollyanna WardropMarch 31, 2026GlobalAcademic Research PublicationsOrganisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) play vital roles as policy and governance experts, strategic partners, advocates, and community implementers of work to progress equity and inclusion of people with disabilities, including accelerating access to assistive technology. Despite their integral role in disability rights advocacy, many OPDs operate with minimal and insecure funding, undermining their ability to sustain operations, be involved in, and have influence over the shaping of strategies, policies, and interventions.
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Kenya Case study report
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 31, 2026KenyaCase Studies and ReportsMobile phones are increasingly important to our lives. They can connect people to learning and employment opportunities and support social and cultural interactions. Mobile phones have also been identified as assistive technology in prior AT2030 research. However, mobile phones and the Internet are often excluded from Government or Insurance-based assistive technology provision schemes in low- and middle-income countries. There is insufficient evidence to explain how mobile phones function as assistive technologies and what support is needed for people to learn the full suite of accessibility features on mobile devices.
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2026 Advance awardees
Royal Academy of EngineeringMarch 31, 2026GlobalCase Studies and ReportsAdvance 2026 will work towards the theme of 'Accessibility, Assistive and Inclusive Technologies’ during the 2025 to 2026 period. Advance 2026 is a collaboration between the Royal Academy of Engineering and Global Disability Innovation Hub, part of the AT2030 programme, which is funded by UK International Development.
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AT2030: Para Sport Against Stigma Learning from Systems, Storytelling and Assistive Technology
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 31, 2026Malawi, United KingdomCase Studies and ReportsThe AT2030 Para Sport Against Stigma Programme is a multi-phase research and practice initiative funded by UK International Development and led by Loughborough University in partnership with organisations across Southern Africa. It explored how Para Sport, media, storytelling, and assistive technology could work together to challenge disability stigma and evolved through cycles of reflection and learning shifting from an early focus on broadcast access and Paralympic visibility toward a deeper understanding of how stigma is structurally reproduced through systems, and what it actually takes to enable participation.
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Strenthening Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) through Assistive Technology
Kilimanjaro Blind TrustMarch 30, 2026AT2030 ResourcesOrganizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) are central to advancing inclusive governance and development in Kenya. Evidence across counties consistently shows that OPDs are already playing critical roles, linking communities to services, supporting participation in governance processes, and strengthening accountability at local and national levels. This strategy builds on what is already working and focuses on scaling, structuring, and sustaining the role of OPDs within Kenya’s development systems. There is a significant opportunity to further strengthen and formalize these contributions within formal systems.
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Mobile as Assistive technology Kenya Report Summary
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 30, 2026KenyaCase Studies and ReportsThis document presents the summary of findings from research investigating the impact of Mobile as Assistive Technology conducted in Kenya between 2024 and 2025. The project explored whether smartphones can serve as assistive technology for people who are Blind or Partially Sighted (BPS) and people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH). The research was funded by the UK Department for International Development, Google, and ATScale – Global Partnership for Assistive Technology. The research was led by Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and University College London in collaboration with Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa, Senses Hub, and Safaricom.
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Strengthening OPD Capacity for Inclusive Development in Mombasa County, Kenya
Kilimanjaro Blind TrustMarch 30, 2026KenyaCase Studies and ReportsDuring consultations in Mombasa, Jemima Kutata, an OPD leader, captures a recurring reality: while disability rights are increasingly recognised in law, translating these provisions into meaningful change at the community level remains a challenge. This reflects a broader gap between Kenya’s progressive legal frameworks, particularly the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2025, and their implementation in practice. In Mombasa, a coastal urban hub shaped by tourism, trade, and a large informal economy, persons with disabilities face distinct barriers in accessing services, employment, and assistive technologies. While Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) play a critical role in addressing these gaps, many continue to face structural and capacity-related constraints that limit their influence.
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Principles for inclusive event design
Royal Academy of EngineeringMarch 30, 2026AT2030 ResourcesInclusive events create opportunities for wider participation, stronger collaboration and richer discussions. This guide outlines practical steps to plan events that are inclusive by design and promote comfort, autonomy and inclusion. It is based on the experience and feedback gathered throughout the design and delivery of the AT2030 Frontiers symposium, which was part of a collaboration between the Royal Academy of Engineering and UCL Global Disability Inclusion (GDI) Hub’s AT2030 programme. AT2030 is funded by UK International Development.
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OPD Capacity Strengthening Framework (Kenya)
Kilimanjaro Blind TrustMarch 27, 2026KenyaCase Studies and ReportsThis framework provides a structured and evidence-informed approach to strengthening the institutional, technical, and operational capacity of OPDs in Kenya. It prioritizes the integration of Adaptive Assistive Technology (AT) as an enabler of inclusion and organizational effectiveness, while also advancing inclusive leadership and governance, strategic partnerships, sustainable resource mobilization, and accountable, results-oriented project implementation.
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Mobile as Assistive Technology Brazil Project Report Summary
Global Disability Innovation HubMarch 27, 2026BrazilAcademic Research PublicationsThis document presents the summary of findings from research investigating the impact of Mobile as Assistive Technology conducted in Brazil between 2024 and 2025. The project explored whether smartphones can serve as assistive technology for people who are Blind or Partially Sighted (BPS) and people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH). The research was funded by the UK Department for International Development, Google, and ATScale – Global Partnership for Assistive Technology.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Old biases in new data: Inclusive preprocessing to create disability representation in synthetic datasets
Vicki Austin, Jamie DanemayerMarch 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.
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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.
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