A Mentoring Playbook for Disability Innovation

Today, as we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we want to focus on innovation’s vital role in creating a more inclusive world for people with disabilities.

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we are delighted to share a new playbook designed to support organisations in launching and managing mentoring programmes for early-career researchers and start-ups in the disability innovation sector. This playbook, informed by insights from the TIDAL Accelerator, Attvaran Accelerator, and We Love Mentors, provides a practical framework for overcoming the unique challenges of assistive technology (AT) ventures. The TIDAL Accelerator supports early-career researchers in disability innovation, while the Attvaran Accelerator aids start-ups and entrepreneurs through mentorship and business training.

This playbook provides a comprehensive guide for organisations seeking to launch and manage mentoring programmes aimed at early career researchers (ECRs) and start-ups in the disability innovation sector. Rooted in the experiences of the TIDAL ECR Accelerator, insights from the Attvaran Accelerator, run by GDI Hub as part of the AT2030 programme, and We Love Mentors, this playbook outlines a practical and adaptable framework for fostering mentoring in a complex, yet essential, area of innovation.