Assistive technology¹ access is an issue that has gone under the radar for too long.

Back in 2022, the first ever global report on assistive technology was compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. It looked at assistive products such as glasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs, prosthetics and digital devices – all of which transform the lives of people with disabilities, chronic health conditions, physical impairments, and older people around the world.

What this report tragically revealed was a huge gap in access to assistive technology for those individuals and communities who are already at a disadvantage.

But, as countries battled the fallout of the pandemic and myriad other health challenges, this report, and the issues it raised, never received the attention they deserved.

Working with ATscale, a global partnership hosted by the United Nations, we set out to change that, and chose the UN General Assembly as our key moment.

The access gap

Currently, more than 2.5 billion people globally need one or more assistive product.

In high-income countries, access to these products is typically good; on average, 90% of citizens can get the assistive technology they require.

But in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), we see a completely different reality – with just 10% of citizens able to access the assistive products they need.

This effectively leaves people locked out of education and the workforce, as well as everyday experiences like reading their child a bedtime story, playing sport, or getting to a friend’s house.

It also perpetuates inequality and poverty cycles.

Investing makes sense

As you have probably guessed, resolving this issue will not come cheap. It’s been estimated that to ensure lifetime access to appropriate assistive technology for all people who need it in LMICs today would cost approximately USD 700 billion over 55 years.

And yet, there’s a significant return on investment to be made. Research from ATscale shows that for every dollar invested in assistive technology, a $9 return can be expected through improved educational outcomes, better paid employment and high productivity among adults, and lower longer-term healthcare costs.

On top of the economic case, assistive technology access is essential if we are to “Leave No One Behind”, as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promise.

Creating momentum

While the benefits are clear, with so many competing health challenges, how can we ensure that assistive technology gets the attention and commitment it deserves?

This is the exact challenge we faced when collaborating with ATscale.

Our answer: the Unlock The Everyday campaign.

Launched on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum earlier this year, Unlock The Everyday is a campaign that highlights the problem of assistive technology access and encourages world leaders to step up. Since its inception, it’s been gathering momentum. It’s backed by health and development organisations like WHO and UNICEF, and a range of high-profile individuals have united behind it in recent months, including: British Paralympian and disability rights advocate Anne Wafula Strike MBE; Giles Duly, the first United Nations Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding situations, and CEO of the Legacy of War Foundation; Nigerian poet, advocate and influencer Maryam Bukar Hassan; and the Honourable First Lady of Pakistan, Begum Samina Arif Alvi.

Most recently, we took this campaign to New York to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). There, we took over Times Square, with the world’s largest eye-test and an important message: “Need glasses? One billion people do today.”

The aim? To ensure that UNGA attendees – the leading policymakers from around the world, who can make the greatest difference for assistive technology access – could no longer overlook the issue.

The activation was an eye-grabbing moment in time, demanding attention and action.

It was supported by campaigners on the ground – from representatives of development agencies like USAID and UNICEF to local community groups in New York, and individuals whose lives have been impacted by assistive technology – all calling for better access to glasses and other assistive products, to benefit the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

The Disability Advocates are (L-R): Top row: Maryam Bukar – Hassan (Founder, Creative Cultural Revival), Fernando Botelho (Program Specialist, Assistive Technology, UNICEF), Sara Basson (Accessibility and Disability Inclusion in Emerging Markets, Google), Saima Saleem (Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations), Gopal Mitra, (Head of Disability Unit, UNICEF), Irene Mbari-Kirika (Executive Director, inABLE), Dr Oteri Eme Okolo (National Eye Health Program, Federal Ministry of Health). Bottom row: Carlos Leon (Program Manager for NY SCION), Maria José Carranza (Youth Ambassador, UNICEF Guatemala), Anne Wafula Strike (Paralympian and Inclusion Campaigner)

What now?

The challenges of assistive technology access are still far from being resolved.

This campaign has been an important first step in starting the conversation, and we’re proud to have been involved.

But above all, we now need to see investment and action. ATscale and its partners will be continuing to call on governments to increase funding for assistive technology and infrastructure, and to introduce national-level policies that make assistive technology a core part of health systems and services, insurance schemes and education initiatives.

They have ambitious goals – to get an additional 500 million people in LMICs the life-changing assistive technology they need by 2030. This will be by no means easy to achieve – and impossible unless governments make assistive technology a priority. But it’s also essential if we are to ever establish a more equal world.

Find out more about the Unlock The Everyday campaign and join the conversation at: https://unlocktheeveryday.org/

If you are interested in how Grayling might be able to support your health campaign, contact: Sam.Standring@grayling.com

 

 

 

 

¹ Assistive Technology (AT) is an umbrella term covering the systems and services related to the delivery of assistive products and services. Assistive products are any product, including devices, equipment, instruments and software, especially designed and produced or generally available, whose purpose is to maintain or improve an individual’s functioning and independence and to facilitate participation. Examples include wheelchairs, eyeglasses, hearing aids, prostheses and assistive digital devices and software.