Publications
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The Kenyan assistive technology ecosystem: a network analysis
Emma M. Smith, Catherine HollowayDec. 1, 2023KenyaAcademic Research PublicationsThe objective of this research was to provide an overview of the Kenyan Assistive Technology Ecosystem, including available assistive products and related services, and an understanding of the nature and strength of relationships between stakeholders. The research concluded that Improving access to assistive technology in Kenya will benefit from greater collaboration amongst all assistive technology stakeholders.
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Unpacking ‘What Works’: A Commentary of the Key Learnings for ICT from the AT2030 Program
Catherine Holloway, Vicki Austin, Natasha Layton, Diane BellNov. 27, 2023GlobalAT2030 ResourcesThe AT2030 programme was launched in 2018 to test ‘what works’ in getting assistive technology (AT) to people globally, specifically in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), where there is often a systematic lack of provision. After four years, this paper reviews the project outcomes, focussing on published material. It provides the backdrop to the AT2030 program, contextualises current developments in global AT global and funding, and unpacks the key learnings of what works to get AT to the people that need it around the world, with a focus on ICT.
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Characterising mobile phone inclusion among Assistive Technology users
Global Disability Innovation Hub, SLURCNov. 9, 2023Indonesia, Sierra LeoneResearch SummariesThis research summary provides key highlights and snapshot content from a major research study on the characterising mobile phone inclusion among Assistive technology users.
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Disability Innovation Summit - Recordings
Global Disability Innovation HubNov. 1, 2023GlobalAT2030 ResourcesBringing together global experts and new voices to share big ideas and ask the question: What next for disability innovation? Catch up the summit recordings
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CRPD jurisprudence on Assistive Technologies through Concluding Observations: An analysis from Global South perspectives
International Disability AllianceOct. 25, 2023GlobalAT2030 ResourcesThe Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) recognizes the importance of assistive technology to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and fully participate in society. The CRPD has defined the obligations of States Parties to promote the use, research, development, production, and distribution of assistive technology, making it affordable and widely available for persons with disabilities.
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Evidence brief on engaging communities in Para sport in Malawi
Loughborough UniversityOct. 17, 2023MalawiResearch SummariesThis research summary provides key highlights and snapshot content from a major research study on the potential of Para sport for addressing stigma, and provides a set of recommendations.
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National Manufacturing Kenya: Innovation Stack
Global Disability Innovation HubOct. 4, 2023KenyaCase Studies and ReportsThis paper provides an overview of a model of local manufacture of wheelchairs by Motivation. Motivation is a disability inclusion charity and social enterprise, operational for 31 years. Their development of a Kenyan wheelchair manufacturing model will help to indicate whether national manufacture can provide one method of overcoming global supply challenges, inherent in a mass-market model, and aligns with the Kenyan Government's plans to boost the manufacturing sector and improve the provision of assistive technology, and the Government’s desire to be a regional provider.
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Special Report on Malawi National Paralympic on 27th July at the Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe
Loughborough University, University of Malawi, Athletics Association of MalawiSept. 30, 2023MalawiAT2030 ResourcesThe Malawi Paralympic Committee (MPC) hosted the first ever Malawi National Paralympic on 27th July, under the theme “Developing Elite Para Sport at national Level”. The First Malawi Para Games took place at the magnificent Bingu National Stadium (BNS) in Lilongwe, the Capital City.
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The IDEAL PROCESS for developing Assistive Technology policy
Malcolm MacLachlan, Emma M. Smith, Ikenna D. Ebuenyi, Monica Z. Jamali, Alister MunthaliSept. 19, 2023GlobalAcademic Research PublicationsPolicy development and implementation are key to improving access to Assistive Technology (AT). In this paper, we describe a strength-based framework for doing this at national level. We used an action research approach, with the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD) as the primary frame of reference. Primary data were collected using the World Health Organisation’s rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA). We describe the process of applying our emergent framework and how our findings support it.
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AT DIGEST: Issue 1
Global Disability Innovation Hub, International Disability AllianceSept. 1, 2023GlobalAT2030 ResourcesAT Digest is a quarterly publication curated by the International Disability Alliance with the objective of increasing awareness about the possibilities offered by assistive technology as experienced by its users. Additionally, it aims to disseminate information to a broad spectrum of assistive technology stakeholders, such as present and prospective users, manufacturers, and policymakers.
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Assistive Technology User Fellowship: Positioning OPDs as Equal Partners on Assistive Technologies
International Disability AllianceSept. 1, 2023GlobalCase Studies and ReportsThe International Disability Alliance (IDA), Global Disability Innovation Hub (GDI Hub) and AT2030 are implementing a project “Positioning OPDs as Equal Partners on Assistive Technology” (AT Project) with the aim to strengthen the role of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations (OPDs) in the use of and access to AT in different parts of the world by reinforcing their technical capacities and contributing to the production of research and knowledge on AT, and to reduce the gap in knowledge among relevant duty bearers, actors and service providers about AT and to document experiences of diverse groups of persons with disabilities who either currently using AT or trying to access it.
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Harmonising Assistive Technology Assessment Data: A Case Study in Nepal
Jamie Danemayer, Dr Ben Oldfrey, Pratisthit Lal Shrestha, Catherine HollowayAug. 31, 2023Academic Research PublicationsThis study by GDI Hub harmonises data from three surveys in Nepal to improve insights into assistive technology (AT) needs, revealing limited access and unmet demand, especially for hearing aids. By creating a unified dataset, it supports evidence-based policy, enhances AT access, and guides innovators on market opportunities. This approach offers a model for strengthening AT data globally.
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Inclusive Design and Accessibility of the Built Environment in Medellín - an Inclusive Infrastructure Case Study from Colombia
Global Disability Innovation Hub, El ComitéAug. 7, 2023ColombiaCase Studies and ReportsThis case study shares findings and recommendations for infrastructure, built environment and urban development - with the aim of driving global action to more accessible and inclusive cities. Building a picture of the current state of the built environment in Medellín, to understand the potential for inclusive design to address barriers to inclusion for persons with disabilities.
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Brilliance and Resilience: A New Perspective to the Challenges, Practices and Needs of University Students with Visual Impairments in India
Tigmanshu Bhatnagar, Vikas Upadhyay, PV Madhusudhan Rao, Nicolai MarquardtAug. 1, 2023GlobalAcademic Research PublicationsPeople with visual impairments in India have low literacy rates and only a few pursue higher education at the country's top universities. We present an insight into the educational experiences of these few university students with visual impairment based on the Frame of Interdependence. We found that educational challenges arise when interdependence fails due to restricted or misfitted assistance from social relations and ableist social interactions. Analysis of practices to overcome these challenges from the lens of Resilience Theory revealed that students develop a sense of self-confidence through successful academic experiences, internalise external stressors into intrinsic motivation, and find ways to navigate inaccessibility with the available social resources. In addition, students express the need to increase the integration of assistive technologies in education and facilitate social integration. Finally, we discuss the implications of these findings for equitable and inclusiv
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Assistive Technology in Two Humanitarian Contexts: Bangladesh and Jordan
Global Disability Innovation HubJuly 26, 2023Bangladesh, JordanResearch SummariesDespite increased focus on the need for assistive technology (AT), very little is actually known about how people who need AT are managing in humanitarian contexts. This research found that the provision of AT (in this case mainly assistive devices) is ad hoc, and largely related to the access, availability and focus of NGO-funded projects in camps or communities.
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Repair strategies for assistive technology in low resource settings
Dr Ben Oldfrey, Catherine Holloway, Julian Walker, Steven McCormack, Bernadette Deere, Laurence Kenney, Robert Tamale Ssekitoleko, Helen Ackers, Mark MiodownikJuly 25, 2023GlobalAcademic Research PublicationsThis paper focuses on the local repair of assistive products in low resource environments. We review the existing literature on the repair of assistive products in low resource settings, and briefly discuss the “Right to Repair” movement.
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Research Report on the Tokyo 2020 Broadcasting in Sub-Saharan Africa March 2022
Global Disability Innovation Hub, Loughborough University, The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), University of MalawiJuly 19, 2023MalawiResearch SummariesThis research summary provides key highlights and snapshot content from the journal paper, The AT 2030 Para Sport Against Stigma project aimed to examine how disability stigma can be overcome through Para sport so to increase assistive technology (AT) adoption in Africa.
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What works to improve access to AT
Diane Bell, Catherine Holloway, Vicki Austin, Natasha LaytonJuly 13, 2023GlobalAT2030 ResourcesThe ‘What Works’ Report provides a comprehensive interim snapshot of the AT2030 programme to inform the sector and guide future work. Bringing together the evidence produced by AT2030 over the last 4 years (October 2018 – July 2022) along with the reflections of multiple stakeholders and the AT2030 Advisory Board.
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Pixelated Interactions: Exploring Pixel Art for Graphical Primitives on a Pin Array Tactile Display
Catherine Holloway, Tigmanshu Bhatnagar, Mark Miodownik, Vikas Upadhyay, Anchal Sharma, PV Madhusudhan Rao, Nicolai MarquardtJuly 10, 2023GlobalAcademic Research PublicationsTwo-dimensional pin array displays enable access to tactile graphics that are important for the education of students with visual impairments. Due to their prohibitive cost and limited access, there is limited research within HCI and the rules to design graphics on these low-resolution tactile displays are unclear. In this paper, eight tactile readers with visual impairments qualitatively evaluate the implementation of Pixel Art to create tactile graphical primitives on a pin array display. Every pin of the pin array is assumed to be a pixel on a pixel grid. Our findings suggest that Pixel Art tactile graphics on a pin array are clear and comprehensible to tactile readers, positively confirming its use to design basic tactile shapes and line segments. The guidelines provide a consistent framework to create tactile media which implies that they can be used to downsize basic shapes for refreshable pin-array displays.
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Responding to the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic with innovative data use: The role of data challenges
Jamie DanemayerJuly 7, 2023Research SummariesThis research summary provides key highlights and snapshot content from the journal paper, responding to the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic with innovative data use: The role of data challenges.
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