WHO Collaborating Centre
In 2021 GDI Hub became the first official Collaborating Centre for the World Health Organisation on Assistive Technology.
Led by GDI Hub’s Academic Director, Professor Cathy Holloway, the WHO Collaborating Centre will focus on driving global disability innovation to work towards a fairer world through access to assistive and accessible technology.
Experts from GDI Hub will support the WHO in widening global access to AT, which will be done through improving access to assistive products for humanitarian response, driving advances in digital technology and artificial intelligence and developing and implementing a one-stop shop model of assistive products service provision.
They will also contribute to the 2022 WHO/UNICEF World Report on Assistive Technology, highlighting the current need, demand and supply of assistive technology, as well as outlining good practices for innovation and recommendations to improve access.
We are delighted to be the WHO's first Assistive Technology Collaboration Centre. Never has there been a more important time to address the needs of disabled and older people, as globally we look to build back fairer from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Professor Cathy Holloway
