The Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) in Doha, Qatar, from November 4–6, 2025, marks a critical moment to accelerate global commitments to poverty reduction, employment, and social integration. ATscale will play a central role, advocating for Assistive Technology (AT) as an indispensable tool for achieving disability inclusion and realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ATscale will lead, co-host, and participate in key side events to present practical solutions and inspire political commitment.
Solutions Session 1:
Multi-stakeholder partnerships in education and assistive technology: transforming education and employment opportunities for children and young people with disabilities
Date: Wednesday 5 November
Time: 15 - 16h15
In-person event
ATscale, will be leading this high-impact side event focused on the pivotal role of assistive technology in ensuring children and young people with disabilities can access quality education, which is the necessary foundation for decent work and economic independence. This session will explore how multi-stakeholder partnerships can integrate AT into educational systems at scale, transforming lives and upholding the promise of inclusive education. The side event will also serve as a platform to launch the AT and Education policy brief, developed by ATscale and UNICEF.
The session will feature a diverse lineup of speakers, including young people with lived experience from low- and middle-income countries, government representatives from the Australian Government Government of Rwanda, and experts from international organizations such as UNICEF, ATscale, Global Partnership for Education (GPE), International Disability Alliance (IDA). This diverse group will offer unique perspectives on how collaborative, multilateral partnerships can address AT challenges in education and access to employment opportunities. GPE will spotlight country examples where Partnership Compacts have embedded inclusive education and AT into sector reform, supported by coordinated sustainable financing.
The session will be structured to encourage dynamic and engaging storytelling, with a focus on real-world solutions. Through keynote interventions and panel discussions, seasoned professionals will explore challenges related to AT, particularly in education. The dialogue will also highlight how multilateral partnerships can create scalable systems to ensure broader AT access in education. Young people with lived experience will provide compelling narratives, emphasizing the critical role AT plays in their educational journeys
Solutions session 2:
Investment in disability inclusion matters for poverty reduction and decent work.
Date: Tuesday 4 November
Time: 15:00-16:15
ATscale is collaborating with the UK Government on high-level dialogue that places disability inclusion at the heart of economic development. This session will make the compelling case that investing in disability inclusion—through accessible infrastructure, inclusive employment practices, and assistive technology—is a powerful and cost-effective engine for poverty reduction and achieving decent work for all, in line with the WSSD’s core pillars. The event will bring together governments, development banks, and the private sector to discuss concrete financial and policy commitments.
Solutions session 3:
Resilience for all: Catalyzing disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction for equitable social development
Date: Wednesday 5 November
Time: 13h15 - 14h40
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and UN DESA will be hosting a side event which, ATscale is participating in, to address the disproportionate risks faced by persons with disabilities in times of disaster. The session will highlight the crucial link between disability inclusion, Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), and social development.
A key moment will be the ‘soft’ launch of the Policy Brief on Assistive Technology and Climate Action, informed by a global study on inclusive DRR for AT users. ATscale will have a speaking role, advocating for the integration of AT into all disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.