Assistive technology organizations
Globally, many organizations contribute to expanding access to quality assistive technology.
This page highlights a selection of key organizations that:
- Fund or implement assistive technology programmes
- Serve as member organizations or professional associations, or
- Provide training resources for assistive technology globally
This is not an exhaustive list of all organizations involved in assistive technology.
| Name of Organization | Role (As per organization's own description) | Website Link |
|---|---|---|
| Asia Development Bank (ADB) |
Asian Development Bank is a multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. The Asian Development Bank promotes assistive technology through partnerships and projects to enhance the financial inclusion, education, and employment of people with disabilities in Asia and the Pacific. Initiatives include developing strategic tools for banks, sharing knowledge on inclusive design, and supporting digitalization to create a more inclusive future where technology breaks down barriers for people with disabilities. |
https://www.adb.org/ |
| ATscale the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology |
ATscale is a cross-sector global partnership working to transform access to assistive technology (AT) worldwide. Hosted by UNOPS, ATscale brings together governments, donors, UN agencies, civil society, and the private sector to catalyze political will, investment, and catalyzes action to ensure that, by 2030, an additional 500 million people in low-and middle-income countries get the life-changing AT they need. |
https://atscalepartnership.org/ |
| CBM (Christian Blind Mission) |
Christian Blind Mission (CBM) is a Christian international development organisation devoted to improving the lives of people with disabilities in the poorest places on earth. Poverty and disability go hand in hand, creating a cycle of inequality, isolation and exclusion that leads to the most extreme forms of poverty. CBM uses assistive technology to improve the lives of people with disabilities, focusing on both high-tech and low-tech solutions. |
https://www.cbmuk.org.uk/ |
| Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) |
The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) is a global health organization that operates at the nexus of government, business, and health. Our approach hinges on our trusted relationships with governments to drive change across entire health systems. CHAI has a robust assistive technology programme that focuses on creating sustainable market systems to increase the availability, affordability, and quality of assistive products in low- and middle-income countries. |
https://www.clintonhealthaccess.org/ |
| Fred Hollows Foundation |
The Fred Hollows Foundation is an international development organisation with a very clear purpose: to make sure everyone, whether they’re rich or poor, has access to high quality, affordable eye health care. |
https://www.hollows.org/ |
| HelpAge |
HelpAge International’s goal is to improve the lives of older women and men in low- and middle-income countries, especially those in crisis-prone and insecure areas. HelpAge’s mission is to empower older people to lead dignified, active, and healthy lives. |
https://www.helpage.org/ |
| Humanity and inclusion (HI) |
Humanity & Inclusion (HI), formerly known as Handicap International, is an independent and impartial international non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to supporting people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations in situations of poverty, exclusion, conflict, and disaster. |
https://www.hi-us.org/en/index |
| International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) |
The International Committee of the Red Cross is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. The ICRC also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles. The rehabilitation programme was founded in 1979. A leader in the field, ICRC have developed high-quality assistive and mobility devices at low cost. ICRC aims to restore and enhance not only the person’s ability to physically perform daily tasks, but their sense of independence as well. |
https://www.icrc.org/en/what-we-do/physical-rehabilitation |
| International Labour Organization (ILO) |
International Labour Organization (ILO) is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights, pursuing its founding mission that social justice is essential to universal and lasting peace. ILO uses assistive technology as a key tool in its broader strategy to promote disability inclusion and expand employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The ILO's work focuses on both the promotion of technological innovations and the creation of enabling environments through policy and employer engagement. |
https://www.ilo.org/ |
| International Organization for Migration (IOM) |
IOM is part of the United Nations System and stands as the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration. IOM’s work encompasses assisting vulnerable migrants, including those with disabilities. |
https://www.iom.int/ |
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| Name of Organization | Role (As per organization's own description) | Website Link |
|---|---|---|
| World physiotherapy |
World Physiotherapy is the sole international voice for physiotherapy, representing more than 600,000 physiotherapists worldwide, through 129 member organizations. The organization operates as a non-profit organization and is committed to furthering the physiotherapy profession and improving global health by supporting member organizations with information, expertise, and services. |
https://world.physio/ |
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| Name of Organization | Role (As per organization's own description) | Website Link |
|---|---|---|
| Physiopedia |
Physiopedia is a charity registered in the United Kingdom that provides an evidence-based and continually updating knowledge resource that is free for anyone to access. The Physiopedia website is the world's largest rehabilitation knowledge resource and is used by people throughout the world. |
https://www.physio-pedia.com/ |
| WHO Academy |
The WHO Academy hosts Learning on TAP (TAP for short), a WHO blended learning resource consisting of modular courses on a range of health topics including assistive technology and sensory functions (eyes and ears). The primary target audiences for TAP are primary care and community-level personnel. The assistive technology course teaches identification, referral and provision of selected assistive products for cognition, communication, hearing, mobility, self-care and vision. It also has modules for emergency contexts. |
https://whoacademy.org/partners/TAP/ |