Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜

Driving forward #DisabilityInnovation for a fairer world. @WHO Collaborating Centre for #AssistiveTechnology. Leading @AssistTech2030. Partner of #WeThe15

[Makerere Innovation & Incubation Center @miic_ug]

#ThrowBackThursday 🚀

What an incredible journey! The Innovation Sprint Demo Day brought together over 100+ attendees including 16 teams, mentors, partners, and the innovation community to celebrate a massive milestone.

This demo day was the culmination of the Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) program. What started as ideas evolved into functional prototypes including AI models, applications, and research specifically designed to address challenges faced by people with speech impairments.

5 teams secured funding:
• Audiva – USD 1,500
• Team Trevor – USD 1,000
• Voxsign – USD 1,000
• Tuwaye – USD 750
• Wulira – USD 750

This initiative is co-funded by https://t.co/BMXfXzjoyA and part of #AT2030Programme led by UCL’s @GDIHub and Centre for Digital Language Inclusion (CDLI), in collaboration with @senses_hub and @miic_ug.

A heartfelt thank you to all participants, mentors, partners, and supporters who contributed to making this journey and Demo Day a success👏

#InnovateWithUs

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

The forum explored inclusive design, assistive technology, accessibility and innovation - and the importance of participation & advocacy to drive change.

➡️ find out more: https://t.co/NRkdEtiWZs

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

Our Senior Inclusive Design Manager @access_shivani recently joined the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities @CPA_Secretariat Forum in South Africa.

#GDIHub #AT2030Programme

[Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) HQ @CPA_Secretariat]

How do we move from disability representation to lasting systems change?

Read our new blog, where the Director of Global Engagement at the @GDIHub explores how we can create accessible democratic institutions from the outset #COSP19 ⬇
https://t.co/graRVUdneL

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

The Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities network sits within the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and aims to ensure disability perspectives are reflected in policy discussions and decision-making processes.

#AT2030programme #Disability

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

We are excited to have been part of this conversation at the @WUF_UNHabitat

Catch our colleague Rebecca Joskow answering the question, 'What is the difference between a disability dongle and inclusive design, & why does it matter for the future of our cities?'

#AT2030Programme

[UN-Habitat @UNHABITAT]

New series: 🎙️ WUF Conversations Ep 1. Rebecca Joskow explores disability dongles vs inclusive design.

Instead of retrofitted adaptations, inclusive design embeds accessibility from the start, creating equitable spaces for all as cities grow.

[Makerere Innovation & Incubation Center @miic_ug]

Congratulations to Team Voxsign our #GraduateInnovationProgram Cohort 1 startup for securing USD 1,000 at the Inclusive Technology Innovation Sprint Demo Day! 👏

Voxsign is an adaptive speech recognition web application that translates non-standard speech into Ugandan Sign Language, helping bridge communication gaps through inclusive innovation.

The team participated in the Automatic Speech Recognition Programme, an initiative co-funded by https://t.co/BMXfXzjoyA under the #AT2030Programme, led by UCL’s @GDIHub and its Centre for Digital Language Inclusion (CDLI), in collaboration with @senses_hub and @miic_ug

We are proud to celebrate this milestone and excited to see the team continue building a more accessible and inclusive future through technology. 🚀

#InnovateWithUs #MIICStartups

[Makerere Innovation & Incubation Center @miic_ug]

Advancing Inclusive Speech Technology in Africa!

5 months ago together with @senses_hub and @GDIHub, we set out on the journey towards building inclusive speech technology for non-standard speech focusing on Research, AI Model development and product development and now in the final stretch, gearing up for the highly anticipated Demo Day this April, where participants will have the opportunity to compete for seed funding of up to €5,000.

As part of this journey, we conducted a series of engagements with innovators on:
⚡ Innovation sprint
💡 Ideation and team formation
🧩 Codesigning and organization of people with disability (OPD)
🛠️ Technical build session
📊 Solution presentation and feedback
🎯 Technical mentorship
👨‍🏫 Technical mentorship and fine-tuning

The sessions marked a significant milestone, where teams were able to develop functional products ready for user testing.

#InnovateWithUs

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

✨ We’re looking for an inclusive design project manager, based in Addis Ababa, #Ethiopia to join our inclusive city pilot project!

Click the link below to read more!
https://t.co/PnXdwNyGSh

#GDIHub

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

Join us as an Innovation Manager at GDI Accelerate, working on breakthrough initiatives like the Centre for Digital Language Inclusion – ensuring speech recognition technology works for everyone, including people with non-standard speech patterns.

https://t.co/spuQsuTm4w

[Sauti Yetu @sautiy3tu]

We recently wrapped up the ASR Devices Makerthon at @senses_hub. 4 days of building offline speech-to-text tools using Raspberry Pi, Edge AI and IoT to support people with speech impairments. 🧵

#AccessibilityTech #CDLI #CDLIMakerthon #TechForGood #Innovation #ASR #AT2030

[Innovate Now Official @InnovateNowAT]

Applications are still OPEN for the Innovate Now 🥳#HackAbility #Hackathon
Theme: AI for Accessibility
Build bold, inclusive AI solutions that expand access & opportunity for persons with disabilities.
📅 5–7 March 2026
⏳ Deadline: 25 February 2026
Link:https://t.co/1fqQZgKn1O

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

Just before Christmas, we shared a sneak peak into a project that on of our PhD students has been working on: the Global DPO/OPD Map. The launch was overwhelmingly positive, so we are back with another spotlight and we are welcoming submissions! #AT2030Programme

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

Hello 2026, hello @noordinarypark

Back to the office today at our home in @UCLEast on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London.

#Disability #Innovation #Research

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

Watch the full conversation at the link below:
https://t.co/b5oi3LSpAw

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

How did the Centre for Digital Language Inclusion begin?

Join @cathyholloway1 and Richard Cave, the visionary directors of the Centre for Digital Language Inclusion (CDLI), as they reveal the origins of the centre.

Watch the full conversation here
➡️https://t.co/b5oi3LSpAw

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

This initiative is co-funded by https://t.co/Tthwzyeyug and is a part of the #AT2030Programme through the UK International Development. Technical support has been provided by @modal, whose GPU sponsorship is powering the development of the ASR models.

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

While in the UK we were delighted to host a workshop alongside James to share the learnings to UK stakeholders and beyond.

Para Sport Against Stigma is funded by UK International Development's, as part of our AT2030 programme - testing 'What Works' to improve access to AT.

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

It's been an honour to work alongside James Chiutsi (President of Malawi Paralympic Committee) on our Para Sport Against Stigma project, led by @lborouniversity London.

Last week James received a Doctor in recognition ✨

Find out more: https://t.co/t8jI0575lw

#AT2030programme

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

Funded by the @SnowdonTrust and managed in partnership between the Snowdon Trust and the Global Disability Innovation Hub members range from astrophysicists and lawyers to choreographers and Paralympians, and all have different disabilities.

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

Join the @DisabledLN tomorrow for a webinar on:

➡️ Producing Accessible Events... by the Disabled Leaders Network
➡️ 12pm GMT, Tuesday 16th December
➡️ Register to join: https://t.co/kMf38EeHZB

We'll be hearing from our member's on this exciting new resource.

#GDIhub

[Global Disability Innovation Hub 💜 @GDIHub]

The Disabled Leaders Network is a network of pioneering talent, consisting of disabled students, graduates, and professionals who have all been identified as leaders in their respective fields.