Global Assistive Technology Innovation
Georgia Tech VIP Team
About
More than 2.5 billion people need assistive technology to live productive and dignified lives, yet nearly one billion still lack access. In Sub-Saharan Africa, access to assistive technology can be as low as 3%. We envision the Global Assistive Technology Innovation Hub as a platform that facilitates the collective development of contextually relevant and sustainable assistive technologies for people with disabilities in low-income countries. This VIP introduces students to the mission of advancing global assistive technology innovation through collaboration, co-design, and locally driven solutions. Through collaboration with our Rwandan partners, students will explore concepts of co-design, sustainability, and localization. They will work in sub-teams to develop projects that advance locally relevant assistive technology innovation. Disability, Assistive Technology Access Gap, Co-Design, Inclusive Innovation, Locally Relevant Innovation, Sustainable Innovation, and Global Development. This VIP addresses the global access gap in assistive technology through interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships with organizations in low-income countries. Students explore how contextually relevant and sustainable assistive technologies can be developed through co-design with people with disabilities, practitioners, and community organizations. Each semester, students work in sub-teams focused on different components of the assistive technology innovation ecosystem. These may include areas such as mapping disability services and assistive technology ecosystems, designing digital platforms that support collaboration and knowledge sharing, documenting lived experiences of disability to inform design, and exploring locally produced or low-cost assistive technology solutions. Students join one sub-team and remain with that team for the duration of the semester, contributing to ongoing projects while developing skills in interdisciplinary collaboration, human-centered design, and global innovation. This work builds on the progress and partnerships established since the launch of this VIP in Spring 2024. For detailed information about the projects and sub-teams planned for the upcoming semester, please visit the VIP website: https://sites.gatech.edu/vipgati/
Majors
Global Development, Strategy and Innovation, Analytics, Computational Media, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Human-Centered Computing, Human-Computer Interaction, City and Regional Planning, Geographic Information Science and Technology, Industrial Design, Urban Design, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Health Systems, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Digital Media, Economics, Global Media and Cultures, History, Technology, and Society, International Affairs, Literature, Media, and Communication, Public Policy
How to apply
Visit the official page to apply or learn more.