Join us at COP28!
ATscale was delighted to host two events during COP28 in Dubai:
Empowering learners with disabilities for inclusive climate action through assistive technology
Date: Saturday 2 December
Time: 14h00 - 15h00 (GMT+4)
Location: Greening Education Hub, Green Zone
This session, co-hosted by UNICEF and ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, will delve into the critical role of assistive technology (AT) at the crossroads of climate action and education.
AT is a cornerstone for fostering inclusive education, especially in the context of a changing climate. These technologies, ranging from wheelchairs and hearing aids to prostheses, eyeglasses, and digital devices, empower students with disabilities to actively participate and effectively communicate within educational settings. However, climate change exacerbates existing disparities in access to AT, imposing new barriers, especially for those who may require assistive devices. For children on the move or within humanitarian contexts, this situation compounds the obstacles to accessing quality education. Yet many children in low- and middle-income countries remain without the assistive technology they need.
This session will look into how innovative assistive technology contributes to protecting students with disabilities from the adverse impacts of climate change as well as how digital AT can facilitate the learning process for students with disabilities related to climate change, including self-protection, community resilience, and the development of climate literacy and green skills.
Ensuring inclusion of persons with disabilities and older people in climate action through sustainable assistive technology
Date: Sunday 3 December
Time: 11h00 - 12h30 (GMT+4)
Location: UNOPS Pavilion, Blue Zone & virtual
On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December 2023, this session will unite the spheres of disability and inclusivity, assistive technology and climate action. This nexus is largely uncharted territory in current research and public discourse, though it is gaining recognition. Through the expertise and testimonies of our speakers, the session aims to enhance understanding of how climate change adversely impacts individuals requiring assistive products, such as persons with disabilities and older people, including women and girls. Beyond shedding light on the key challenges and gaps in this domain, the speakers will also discuss approaches for ensuring the inclusion of those facing vulnerabilities in consultations, policy developments, planning, research, etc. Ultimately, our goal is to place this overlooked and under-resourced issue more firmly on the map.
This event will be hosted by ATscale, with contribution from our partners: the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and Global Disability Innovation Hub and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
You can watch a recording of the event here.
For more information, please contact Rebecca Hundevad.