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Organizations

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.

Showing 21 - 30 of 31
Organizations are listed in alphabetical order.
Name of Organization Role (As per organization's own description) Website Link
OHCHR - High Commissioner for Human Rights

The High Commissioner for Human Rights is the principal human rights official of the United Nations. OHCHR has a mandate to ensure the inclusion of the rights of persons with disabilities in the United Nations system. The team focuses on providing guidance on the human rights-based approach to disability, including through reporting and activities mandated by the Human Rights Council, in particular, the annual panel on the rights of persons with disabilities.

SightSavers

Sightsavers is an international charity working to prevent avoidable blindness, fight disease and support equality for women, girls and people with disabilities. 
Sightsavers works in more than 30 countries in Africa and Asia to train health workers, provide eye operations, support people with disabilities, improve women’s health and more. 

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. The organization leads international action to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. UNHCR also works to ensure people with disabilities have access to vital services and have the opportunity to apply their skills and capacities to benefit themselves, their families and communities.
 

UN Women

UN Women is the UN organization delivering programmes, policies and standards that uphold women’s human rights and ensure that every woman and girl lives up to her full potential. UN Women is involved in assistive technology through policy development, partnerships, and ensuring accessibility for women and girls with disabilities. 

United Nations Development programme (UNDP)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the lead United Nations agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. UNDP helps countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships and institutional capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. 
UNDP works to improve access to assistive technology for people with disabilities, especially in disaster-affected areas and low-income countries. This includes providing devices like wheelchairs, hearing aids, and prostheses, as well as supporting local production, innovation, and inclusion in disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.

United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Fund (UNICEF) is a UN agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. UNICEF works to ensure that high-quality and affordable assistive technologies are available for children and supports global efforts in training, procurement, and guidance on their use. UNICEF is a founding member of the ATscale Board.

United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has a big ambition: to help decision makers across the globe better understand and act on risk. UNDRR is working to integrate assistive technology into disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate action to better protect vulnerable populations like persons with disabilities and older people.

World Bank

The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purposes of economic development. The World Bank supports assistive technology for disability-inclusive development through projects, policy tools, and partnerships. Its initiatives focus on making assistive technology accessible and affordable in emerging markets.

World Federation of the Deaf (WDF)

The WFD is an international non-governmental organisation representing and advocating for the human rights of approximately 70 million deaf people worldwide. The organisation promotes inclusive communication, access to sign languages, and equitable access to assistive technologies such as hearing devices, captioning, and communication platforms. WFD works through advocacy, research, and policy engagement to support full participation of deaf people in society.

World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO is the United Nations specialized agency for health, working globally through headquarters, regional, and country offices to promote health, leaving no one behind. WHO’s work on assistive technology is guided by several World Health Assembly resolutions, including WHA71.8 on improving access to assistive technology, WHA74.8 on health for persons with disabilities, WHA70.13 on prevention of deafness and hearing loss, WHA58.23 on disability, WHA76.6 on rehabilitation, and WHA78.7 resolution on sensory impairments.

In line with these mandates, WHO develops global standards and guidance, convenes stakeholders, and provides technical support through its offices to strengthen national capacity. WHO also supports global initiatives such as the GATE Community, the World Hearing Forum, the SPECS initiative, and World Rehabilitation Alliance. WHO is a founding member of the ATscale Board.

Showing 11 - 11 of 11
Organizations are listed in alphabetical order.
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. 

Showing 1 - 3 of 3
Organizations are listed in alphabetical order.
Name of Organization Role (As per organization's own description) Website Link
International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP)

The International Society of Wheelchair Professionals (ISWP) was established in 2015 to address the global need for appropriate wheelchairs and related services. With over 80 million people worldwide requiring wheelchairs for mobility and function, many still lack access to suitable equipment and support.

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.

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.