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Warm greetings from ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology. You are receiving this quarterly update because you have shown an interest in ATscale by signing up to our mailing list, joining an event or supporting us in some way.

Spotlight

International day of persons with disabilities #IDPD 

Today is International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) and it is marked by various initiatives and events to highlight the importance of inclusion and accessibility for persons with disabilities. This year’s theme is: Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.

To mark the day, the award-winning adventure documentary featuring disability rights advocate Cara Yar Khan is being launched. The film documents her courageous 12-day expedition across the Grand Canyon, and is now available for free viewing online.

In collaboration with UNICEF Nepal, we have launched Dina “दिना”, a Nepali text-to-speech software, to enhance accessibility for the visually impaired. This technology provides realistic voices for digital content, helping individuals with visual impairments to access information audibly. Read more: 

Watch this short video as José Viera, the Interim Executive Director of the International Disability Alliance and member of the ATscale Board, underscores the transformative power of assistive technology to realize the rights of people with disabilities in decision-making processes.

ATscale-supported country programmes

Unlocking potential through assistive technology in Rwanda

We are pleased to report that ATscale investments in countries are beginning to bear fruit.  As we ramp up our ability to monitor progress in on-going countries, we can report that we have reached over 100,000 more people, since March 2024, with assistive technology in our country programmes, mostly in Cambodia, Rwanda and our first AT users reached in Kenya, bringing to over 830,000 the total number of people supported by programmes which ATscale is contributing to. 

In Huye district, Rwanda, for example Mrs. Jeannette Mukanomero and Mr. Emmanuel Rucyeratabaro are parents to seven children. Meet their family and read about how their four hearing-impaired children went from isolation and bullying to thriving in school and society, in part thanks to digital hearing aids and a groundbreaking assistive technology programme. Read More

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Calls for urgent access to assistive products for emergency rehabilitation in Gaza as injuries soar

ATscale has highlighted the urgent need for assistive technology in the Gaza Strip, where only a limited number of standard wheelchairs and crutches have been permitted to cross the border.

The complex and varied needs of the population, exacerbated by ongoing conflict and pre-existing medical conditions, require immediate and long-term attention from rehabilitation actors. Over 2,000 individuals with missing limbs and more than 200 with spinal cord injuries lack access to essential assistive devices. ATscale is committed to supporting coordinated efforts to address these critical needs.

Read more in the press release, which we shared on World Humanitarian Day.

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ATscale Board members witness first-hand the impact of ATscale’s investments in Kenya 

The 12th ATscale Board Meeting was held in Kenya, where Board members reviewed the 2024-2027 Strategic Plan.

Board members visited the ATscale-supported programme in the country, such as Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya Society for the Blind and Kenya Medical Supplies ( KEMSA), highlighting the ongoing commitment to enhancing AT access in the country. Nancy Kemutu, audiologist at Kenyatta National Hospital told the delegation:

"The ATscale programme has significantly improved hearing care in Kenya by introducing modern audiology equipment, training healthcare workers, and expanding access to services, helping more people receive the care they need closer to home."

ATscale on the road

ATscale secretariat team continue to conduct fruitful meetings with government counterparts and other development partners in ATscale supported countries.  

In mid-September, the ATscale programme team held meetings in Cambodia to discuss strategies for enhancing AT in the country. Through our collaboration, ATscale is supporting the government to enhance access to assistive technology and rehabilitation services, with a focus on vision and mobility components. The programme aims to improve the quality of life for people who need AT by ensuring access to essential AT devices and services.

From 10-13 September, ATscale CEO Pascal Bijleveld and Senior Programme Manager Henri Bonnin visited partnres in Chad. There, they met with high-level representatives from the ministries of Public Health, Social Action, Solidarity & Humanitarian Affairs, and Education to explore how ATscale could support improved AT access for the population in Chad.

ATscale continues to actively engage in various global events to raise awareness of the importance of equitable access to assistive technology. 

In Australia, Head of Markets and Programmes, Satish Mishra, participated in a forum hosted by the Nossal Institute for Global Health, focusing on the integration of AT within the global health agenda. This engagement reflects the growing recognition of AT as a crucial component of healthcare.

In Berlin, Germany, ATscale co-hosted a strategic roundtable discussion with CHAI, CBM and WHO entitled "Investing in assistive technology: an investment in our future" during the World Health Summit 2024. This event gathered global health leaders and representatives from various sectors to discuss the relevance of assistive technology in addressing current public health challenges and strengthening health systems for equitable access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and emergency situations.

Find out more and read the report from the roundtable which will be used to inform national policies, contribute to a WHO and UNICEF Global Road Map on Accelerating Access to Assistive Technology, as well as to inform the Global Disability Summit taking place in April 2025.

In Italy, during the G7 ministerial meeting, ATscale CEO Pascal Bijleveld spoke during the first meeting on inclusion and disability.  He highlighted the critical role that AT plays in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, advancing inclusion, and promoting human rights and economic development. 

Experts representing a variety of stakeholder groups, called for stronger actions both domestically and internationally. ATscale stood alongside key partners such as IDA, GDI Hub, FCDO and the Zero Project, all committed to driving positive change.  Canada will hold the next G7 presidency and South Africa the G20 presidency. We look forward to more opportunities to influence this important group of member states and to build on  momentum.

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SDG Action Days side event highlights the importance of transformative multi-stakeholder partnerships in education and assistive technology to improve lives of young people with disabilities

ATscale co-hosted a side event during the Summit of the Future ‘Action Days’, supported by the governments of the United States, Rwanda, the Global Partnership for Education, UNOPS, UNICEF, the Global Disability Innovation Hub and the International Disability Alliance, which served as an important platform to raise awareness of why investing in assistive technology and inclusive education are critical if we are to meet the SDGs. Read More

Campaign update

Unlock The Everyday campaigners took over Times Square on 23 September 2024 to call on decision-makers gathering for the United Nations General Assembly to prioritize policies that will improve the lives of hundreds of millions of people, including those with disabilities, chronic health conditions, physical impairments, and older people around the world. 

The campaign moment saw advocates unveil a giant eye test on the billboards of Times Square, believed to be the largest ever displayed. It was followed by an exclusive reception, where an exciting lineup of speakers with lived experience as well as artistic performances highlighted related themes of inclusion and accessibility. Read More

VIDEO: Watch the Times Square Take Over video

From paralympians to artists and leaders in government, representative organizations, the reception offered a unique opportunity to network with them and learn more about the transformative power of assistive technology.  We were delighted that UN advocate Giles Duley and paralympian Anne Wafula-Strike joined us to champion the cause and the Nigerian poet / advocate  Maryam Bukar Hassan performed a poem, written especially for the occasion, and then shared the recording with her ½ million followers on instagram in collaboration with Unlock The Everyday generating 15,500 views in one post alone. 

Watch Maryam perform her poem about the transformative power of assistive technology. 

Partner updates

Microgrants aim to boost assistive technology access

The International Disability Alliance (IDA) has launched a "Microgrants" Programme, with support from ATscale, aimed at supporting initiatives from its member organizations and networks to advance the rights of persons with disabilities in low income countries.

The microgrant programme invites organizations of persons with disabilities and other assistive technology (AT) users to conduct local and national initiatives that promote the advancement of AT in targeted countries. For more information on how you can apply, visit IDA’s website. The application deadline is 6 December 2024.

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Motivation launches project to build sustainable wheelchair manufacturing in Kenya

Motivation,has launched today, an innovative, world-leading project, Made AT Kenya. This project, also supported by ATscale, will establish the supply of wheelchairs in Kenya, addressing the country’s chronic shortage of wheelchairs and reducing dependency on philanthropy and imported poor-quality products.

In building the infrastructure to enable the first-ever scaled manufacture of high-quality wheelchair products by and for Kenyans, Motivation is creating a model of provision that aims to break the cycle of donated and imported AT, move manufacturing closer to demand, and increase supply.

Learn more about this ground-breaking project

New opportunities

ATscale has launched a number of opportunities which are designed to further our mission to reach hundreds of millions more people with the life-changing assistive technology that they need.

Below is a summary of the latest calls and requests for proposals which are live on the ATscale website:

Global enablers:

🔶 Mobility

Consultancy services on uptake of affordable and quality lower limb #ProstheticTechnologies in low- and middle-income countries
#Deadline for submitting proposals: ⌛  12:00 (GMT 2.00) on 📆  15 January 2025

🔶Digital assistive technology

Consultancy services in developing guidance on designing and financing #MobilePhones as #AssistiveTechnology programmes in low- and middle-income countries.
#Deadline for submitting proposals: ⌛  11:00 (GMT 2.00) on 📆  31 January 2025

Country engagement:

🔶 Assistive technology and rehabilitation

Call for Proposals (CFP) for programme management, #Coordination, and technical support to the government of #Columbia and #ElSalvador to strengthen #AssistiveTechnology and related #Rehabilitation Services
#Deadline for submitting proposals: ⌛  12:00 (GMT 2.00) on 📆  15 January 2025

Call for Proposals (CFP) to scale up #AssistiveTechnology and related #Rehabilitation services for school-aged #Children in Pacific Island countries 🌍 #Fiji, #Kiribati and #SolomonIslands
#Deadline for submitting proposals: ⌛  12:00 (GMT 2.00) on 📆  31 January 2025

🔶Eye care

UNOPS Call for Proposals (CFP) for integrated refractive error and #Children's #EyeHealth services through a national approach. Founded by USAID with ATscale technical support, this proposal is intended to address the significant gap in access to refractive error services and children eye health services in low- and middle- income countries.
#Deadline for submitting proposals: ⌛  11:00 (GMT 2.00) on 📆  17 January 2025

Help us to spread the word by sharing these opportunities with your network partners.

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About ATscale

ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology is a cross-sector global partnership, hosted by UNOPS, with a mission to improve people’s lives through assistive technology. It catalyses action to ensure that, by 2030, an additional 500 million people in low- and middle-income countries get the assistive technology they need.

Today, 2.5 billion people globally need to use at least one type of assistive technology, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, prostheses, eyeglasses or digital services. In low-income countries only 10% of people have the assistive technology they need, in stark contrast to 90% of people in need in high-income countries who do.

ATscale works with governments, assistive technology users and organizations, NGOs, bilateral donors, and multilateral organizations to increase awareness and political will, and encourage innovation and investment in assistive technology markets, systems and services.