Global enablers

To effectively deliver access to assistive technology, countries depend on a wide and complex range of global functions, processes and enablers. ATscale’s Global Enablers aim to support increased availability of affordable, high-quality products by expanding access to up-to-date evidence and practical guidance on how to design and deliver inclusive services.

ATscale organizes its global enablers around a set of Priority Intervention Areas - where collective action is needed to help unlock greater access and impact. This can include supporting the development of tools and guidance that fill knowledge gaps that are globally relevant and applicable for national policy and implementation in countries. These resources, along with research that builds evidence and generates data, are essential to underpin new or improved approaches to the provision of assistive technology. Many publications and resources are informed by evidence from ATscale’s product narratives, along with other global evidence.

ATscale has identified four priority areas that cover identified bottlenecks. The short descriptions below describe the intended results:

• Building sustainable assistive product markets- A step-change in assistive product markets is attracting growing numbers of buyers and suppliers of affordable and high-quality products situated closer to users.

• Bringing assistive technology services to everyone, everywhere- Comprehensive guidance and tools, including on innovative service delivery models, is easily available and supporting countries to design services for assistive technology access across the life cycle for all those who can benefit.

• Removing financial barriers to assistive technology access- Evidence on sustainable assistive technology financing options, approaches and models, as well as costing tools, have been strengthened and are available for countries for adoption and roll out.

• Leveraging the power of digital assistive technology - The potential of digital advances for assistive technology, particularly smartphones, is being harnessed more effectively.

  For more detail on the Global Enablers, see the 2024 - 2027 Strategy.