Assistive technology (AT) is an umbrella term for assistive products such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, prostheses, eyeglasses and digital devices, and their related systems and services.
Assistive technology can enable people to live healthier, more productive, independent and dignified lives than before, and to access education, employment and community participation.
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Facilitates access to and participation in education: Enabling children to learn and thrive, fostering inclusive and effective education systems.
Is vital for livelihoods and employment: Enhances efficiency by reducing barriers to work, better-paid employment and higher productivity for adults, helps organizations retain valuable talent and fosters an inclusive, high-performing workforce.
Can support independence and chronic condition management, especially for ageing populations, helping them to stay active, maintain independence and reduce the burden on families and healthcare systems.
Can be crucial to survival in humanitarian settings: For accessing essential support to survive, recover and rebuild lives.
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This problem is particularly acute in low-income countries, where only 10% of the population has access. AT has historically been neglected and under-resourced, resulting in massive inequities based on age, disability, gender, type of functional difficulty, living environment and socio-economic status.
10% OF PEOPLE IN LOW-INCOME COUNTRIES CAN ACCESS THE ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY THEY NEED
Currently, over 2.5 BILLION PEOPLE require one or more assistive products
a number projected to rise to 3.5 BY 2050 due to ageing populations and the rising prevalence of noncommunicable diseases.
This lack of access is a significant barrier to advancing inclusion, human rights, economic development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making it impossible to Leave No One Behind.
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ATscale convenes partners globally and nationally, and engages AT users, to drive progress across three mutually reinforcing strategic pillars:
SUPPORTING COUNTRY PLANS and their implementation, to strengthen AT policies, systems, services and financing in over 30 countries across multiple product areas By 2024, ATscale-supported programmes had reached 1.7 million people with assistive technology, including about 250,000 users of AT in Cambodia, Kenya, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania, Tajikistan and Zambia — half of whom were women and girls.
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STRENGTHENING GLOBAL ENABLERS - the global tools and resources, such as knowledge, guidance and product information - that countries need to make progress, such as healthy markets that deliver reliable supplies of quality, affordable products. For example, in collaboration with CHAI, ATscale supported the production of the first-ever assistive product market report, analysing markets for eyeglasses, hearing aids, prostheses, wheelchairs and digital technology.
ADVOCATING FOR CHANGE to catalyse political will, build public awareness and raise overall resources. For example, in collaboration with 24 partners, ATscale launched Unlock the Everyday, the first global campaign intended to raise awareness of the urgent need to increase access to assistive technology. The campaign has reached millions around the world and is celebrated each year on 4 June, World Day for Assistive Technology.
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