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The Global Disability Hub

Building on the 2012 Paralympic legacy of sustainability and accessibility, Professor Maria Kett (UCL International Disability Research Centre) created a partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation to explore the lasting legacy of the 2012 games.

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Objective and approach

With support from the UCL Grand Challenge of Human Wellbeing and matched funding from the London Legacy Development Corporation, Professor Kett and Paul Brickell established a pop-up Global Disability Hub.

The Hub brought together a range of partners to break new ground in thinking around the themes of disability and innovation, showcasing live, practical case studies from East London and beyond, bringing the latest research on disability issues and innovation to life.

Partnership impact 

  • The project led to the establishment of ‘Paralympicopolis: A Pop-Up Global Disability Innovation Hub, at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. London.
  • Opened in 2016 in collaboration with the V&A and the Royal College of Art the Hub brought together a range of partners to break new ground in thinking around the themes of disability and innovation, showcasing live, practical case studies from East London and beyond, bringing the latest research on disability issues and innovation to life. 
  • Today the Global Disability Innovation Hub works in 41 countries worldwide, with more than 100 partners, has raised over £120m, and has reached more than 35 million people.  
  • Hosted by UCL Engineering, with a new lab space at UCL East in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, it is at the forefront of the disability innovation movement globally, translating research and academic excellence into impact on the ground.  
  • In 2022 the GDI Hub co-sponsored and contributed to 150 papers to the WHO-UNICEF Global Report on assistive technology, building on the work from its AT2030 programme – the UK’s largest ever aid investment into assistive technology.

Project Funding

Grant: Grand Challenges UCL2034 Grants
Year awarded: 2016
Amount awarded: £10,000

 

Partners

  • UCL International Disability Research Centre
  • London Legacy Development Corporation 
  • V&A and the Royal College of Art 
  • UCL Engineering 

People

  • Professor Maria Kett (UCL International Disability Research Centre) 
  • Dr Victoria Austin
  • Paul Brickell