Publications





































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    Case Study: Malawi Para Games

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    May 19, 2024
    Malawi
    Case Studies and Reports

    The Inaugural Malawi Para Games (MPG) provided the first national platform for people with disability to gather and engage in sports, promoting inclusion.

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    Enhancing Communication Equity: Evaluation of an Automated Speech Recognition Application in Ghana

    Catherine Holloway, Giulia Barbareschi, Richard Cave, Gifty Ayoka
    May 11, 2024
    Ghana
    Academic Research Publications

    In Ghana people who struggle to articulate speech as a result of different conditions experience barriers in interacting with others due to difficulties in being understood. Automatic speech recognition software can be used to help listeners understand people with communication difficulties. However, studies have not looked at the practical feasibility of these technologies beyond the Global North. We present a novel user study examining the introduction of one such technology, Google Project Relate, to Ghana.

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    A Systematic Review of Ability-diverse Collaboration through Ability-based Lens in HCI

    Catherine Holloway, Tigmanshu Bhatnagar, Maryam Bandukda, Lan Xiao, Katrin Angerbauer, Weiyue Lin, Michael Sedlmair
    May 11, 2024
    Global
    Academic Research Publications

    This paper offers an analysis of 117 papers sourced from the ACM Digital Library spanning the last two decades. It contributes (1) a unified taxonomy and the Ability-Diverse Collaboration Framework, (2) a reflective discussion and mapping of the current design space, and (3) future research opportunities and challenges. Finally, we have released our data and analysis tool to encourage the HCI research community to contribute to this ongoing effort.

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    Enhancing Communication Equity: Evaluation of an Automated Speech Recognition Application in Ghana - Research Summary

    Catherine Holloway, Giulia Barbareschi, Richard Cave, Gifty Ayoka
    May 11, 2024
    Research Summaries

    This study assessed Google's Project Relate app in Ghana to assist individuals with speech impairments. Key findings included challenges with device access, the need for customised training, and limited awareness of the app. While some users benefited, others faced issues with speech recognition. The study highlighted the need for better support and adaptations, leading to the launch of the Centre for Digital Language Inclusion to address these challenges.

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    NEPCON Conference 2024

    Dr Ben Oldfrey, RAM CHANDRA THAPA
    May 10, 2024
    Nepal
    Academic Research Publications

    A presentation made at the 2nd NEPOCON (Nepal Prosthetics and Orthotics) conference in May 2024 by five members of the project team led by Ram Chandra Thapa from Zener Technologies in Nepal, and Ben Oldfrey from UCL, on A Global-Local Innovation Approach for Appropriate Technology in LMICs: A Case Study in Nepal.

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    On the Relation between Assistive Technology System Elements and Access to Assistive Products Based on 20 Country Surveys

    Wei Zhang, Johan Borg, Irene Calvo, Chapal Khasnapis, Mikael Winberg, Arne H Eide
    May 3, 2024
    GLobal
    Academic Research Publications

    The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between assistive technology system elements and access to assistive products. Data on assistive technology system elements and self-reported survey data on access to assistive products from 20 countries were analyzed using multivariate statistical methods, including orthogonal partial least squares analyses.

  • ParaSport toolkit cover page - this is purple and shows children playing parasport. Cover Image

    Para Sport against stigma coach toolkit

    Loughborough University, The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), University of Malawi
    April 19, 2024
    Malawi
    AT2030 Resources

    This toolkit is aimed at supporting coaches who work with disability athletes within their national and international sporting systems. This includes coaches who are starting out within the parasport system, and also those who currently have athletes on national training programmes supported by the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) and competing under their international federation (IF) rules for a particular sport.

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    Case Study: Making Noise Malawi

    University of Malawi
    April 19, 2024
    Malawi
    Case Studies and Reports

    This is a tool for co-creating action plans for community engagement with disability sport social change in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is intended for use by a wide range of disability sports organisations, including National Paralympic Committees (NPCs), as well as Disabled Persons. Organisations (DPOs) and their partners and allies.

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    Case study : Growing a Para Sport Ecosystem in Malawi

    University of Malawi
    April 18, 2024
    Malawi
    Case Studies and Reports

    Throughout the project, a Para sport ecosystem developed in Malawi. Shifting stigma through coordinated strategies in media, community engagement, and sport development is beginning to influence national systems and policies.

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    A scoping review of digital fabrication techniques applied to prosthetics and orthotics: Part 1 of 2-Prosthetics

    Dr Ben Oldfrey, Dr Dafne Morgado Ramirez, Mark Miodownik, Matthew Wassall, Nerrolyn Ramstrand, Man S Wong, Jamie Danemayer, Alex Dickinson, Laurence Kenney, Christopher Nester, Edward Lemaire, Hossein Gholizadeth, Laura E Diment, Margaret K Donovan-Hall, Catherine Holloway
    April 16, 2024
    Global
    Academic Research Publications

    This scoping review examines the application of digital fabrication techniques to prosthetics, aiming to address gaps in the literature that hinder the adoption of these technologies in clinical settings. Traditional prosthetic manufacturing is labor-intensive and time-consuming, but digital fabrication could streamline the process and improve global access. A comprehensive search across multiple databases yielded 3487 articles, with 247 studies on lower and upper limb prosthetics included in the review. The findings highlight significant limitations, including the need for larger, long-term studies, better understanding of training requirements, and variability in production workflows and materials, all of which impede consistent conclusions

  • sign up page for Assistive Technology online course Cover Image

    Registration for Assistive Technology online course

    International Disability Alliance
    March 31, 2024
    Global
    AT2030 Resources

    International Disability Alliance (IDA) proudly presents its online course "Empowering Independence: Navigating the World of Assistive Technology" and invites you to register for it! Be among the first ones to get access to it.

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    Situational Analysis of Manual Wheelchair Provision: Nepal

    Global Disability Innovation Hub
    March 29, 2024
    Nepal
    AT2030 Resources

    The Enabling Friday Community (EFC) Nepal has proposed a vision for change based on 4 working sessions over the past few months - Enabling Fridays Vision. While we want to focus on building sustainable assistive technology innovation and systems, we as a group recognised the obvious need for specific data to inform the work. Collaboratively we have agreed that a situational analysis and action plan for sustainable manual wheelchair provision should be prioritised to develop a working methodology and service system template. An initial concept note for the work can be found at the below link on which official consultation is being sought within Nepal before proceeding.

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    Enabling Fridays Community Nepal

    Global Disability Innovation Hub, RAM CHANDRA THAPA
    March 29, 2024
    Nepal
    AT2030 Resources

    We believe that now is the time to examine where more localized product and service innovation could unlock more sustainable and resilient AT ecosystem infrastructure in Nepal. We believe there is an opportunity to create better connections between the AT community and local manufacturers, with both newer digital and traditional fabrication expertise to enable sustainable technology transfer and promote innovation. The Enabling Fridays Community Nepal want to bring together local and global expertise working in the AT sector to identify routes that would unlock local innovation, and improve current gaps in service. We have convened our initial stakeholder group over 3 sessions to collectively define problem indicators and set an agenda for what the next steps should be. The overarching challenge for AT provision in Nepal is that there is currently no visible pathway to appropriately meet people's needs throughout their lifetime.

  • Research summary Guidelines for assistive technology service provision – A scoping review Cover Image

    Research summary Guidelines for assistive technology service provision

    Diane Bell
    March 29, 2024
    Global
    Research Summaries

    This research summary provides key highlights and snapshot content from the guidelines for assistive technology service provision – A scoping review.

  • Navigating the AT Ecosystem as Users:
Findings from IDA’s Assistive
Technology Survey Cover Image

    Navigating the AT Ecosystem as Users: Findings from IDA’s Assistive Technology Survey

    International Disability Alliance, Global Disability Innovation Hub
    March 27, 2024
    Global
    AT2030 Resources

    This report is the collective work of the International Disability Alliance and GDI Hub. The survey report is under the project “Positioning OPDs as Equal Partners on AT” to provide technical support, disseminate research, and advocate for access of persons with disabilities to assistive technology in respective regions. This report, and its base survey, also benefitted greatly from the contributions of the IDA-GDI Hub AT User Fellows, namely Ahmed Abdallah, Banya Ojok, Elizabeth Campos, Nayem Molla, and Yusra Gilani. Several user testers from IDA’s community of practice supported the enhancement of this survey, with their contributions making the survey accessible to numerous respondents.

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    Paralympic Broadcasting in Sub-Saharan Africa: Sport, Media and Communication for Social Change

    Harrison Kamau
    March 26, 2024
    Global
    Research Summaries

    This research summary provides key highlights and snapshot content from the research paper, Paralympic Broadcasting in Sub-Saharan Africa: Sport, Media and Communication for Social Change.

  • AT DIGEST: Issue 4, March 2024 Cover Image

    AT DIGEST ISSUE 4

    International Disability Alliance
    March 18, 2024
    Global
    AT2030 Resources

    In this fourth and final issue of AT Digest, IDA-GDI Hub Assistive Technology User Fellows reflect on the role of assistive technology in the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in public life. They penned this piece based on their personal experiences as well as data gathered from AT user interviews conducted in their respective countries namely: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Peru, Sudan, and Uganda. Five fellows interacted in pairs to design interview questions and interviewed 20 AT users representing different disability constituencies including persons with albinism, persons with intellectual disabilities and Deaf persons. IDA provided the Fellows with technical support and guidance notes.

  • Poster of AT Digest Issue 3 Cover Image

    AT DIGEST: Issue 3

    International Disability Alliance
    March 13, 2024
    Global
    AT2030 Resources

    This third issue of the AT Digest reflects on focuses on the relevance of meaningful consultation with and participation of AT users, including organizations of persons with disabilities, to AT policy making and implementation processes.

  • A screenshot of Guidelines for assistive technology service provision – A scoping review Cover Image

    Guidelines for assistive technology service provision – A scoping review

    Natasha Layton, Luc De Witte, Alice Spann, Evert Jan Hoogerwerf, Silvana Contepomi, Mehedi Khan Kobe, Diane Bell
    March 12, 2024
    Global
    Academic Research Publications

    Despite the high unmet need for effective AT provision, multiple service delivery models across different countries, and a shortage of personnel trained in this field, no widely useable and accepted Assistive Technology (AT) service provision guidelines currently exist. This review aims to provide an overview of the literature regarding AT service provision guidelines to inform the development of globally useable AT provision guidance, aligned with contemporary global initiatives to improve access to AT.

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    Research Summary: Wheelchair provision guidelines

    World Health Organization
    Feb. 6, 2024
    Global
    Research Summaries

    This research summary provides key highlights and snapshot content from the wheelchair provision guidelines which aims to support improved access to appropriate wheelchairs, for all those in need, including children, older persons, people with mobility disabilities, and those with chronic health conditions.

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