Name: An evening reception on the margins of the SDG Summit — ATscale
Start: 2023-09-18T18:30:00-0400
End: 2023-09-18T20:00:00-0400

Poverty, inequality, education, health, gender, economic growth, climate action… why assistive technology is an enabler to reach the promise of the SDGs - An evening reception on the margins of the SDG Summit

Hosted by ATscale and UNICEF, in partnership with IDA and USAID, this partnership event highlighted the relevance of assistive technology for achieving the SDGs. It showcased the power of collective action and strong multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder partnerships in achieving this shared ambition.

Cara Yar Khan, Senior Advisor on International Disability Rights at the US Department of State, an AT user herself, expertly moderated the panel discussion with speakers including ATscale Chair and CEO; representatives from USAID, IDA, UNICEF, the government of Senegal and disability rights activists, many of whom use AT themselves, shared their thoughts and personal insights about the importance of assistive technology for the Sustainable Development Goals and discussed solutions to address the shocking inequity in access to assistive technology,

The event was very well attended with very positive feedback received about the engaging discussion and excellent panel. A packed room of participants included key stakeholders attending the SDG Summit, UNGA, and High- Level Meetings taking place in New York, including delegations from member states, as well as the private sector, UN entities, civil society and foundations.

The following photo summary provides highlights from the event…

A room is full of people who are all sitting down, with their backs to the camera, looking at the speakers. In the background are two UNICEF posters, a podium and one of the speakers, standing in front of a window. Through the window, UNHQ is seen. — Speakers shared their insights, passion and personal experiences related to the importance of inclusion and why assistive technology is an enabler to achieving the SDGs.

A woman, Cara Yar Khan, sitting in front of a podium and poster for the event. She is holding a microphone and giving a speech, and she has some notes in her other hand. She is a wheelchair user. — **Session moderator: Cara Yar Khan,** Senior Advisor on International Disability Rights at the US Department of State.

Two men stand behind a podium. One of them, Jon Lomoy, is holding a microphone and giving a speech. To the right of him is a UNICEF poster with the SDG icons and says "Bring inclusion" — **Jon Lomoy,** Chair of ATscale

“We are halfway to 2030, and we have to conclude that we are far behind, we are leaving far too many behind… in order to reach the leave no one behind objective, we must focus on inclusive development.”

Two men stand behind a podium. One of them, Pascal Bijleveld, is holding a microphone and giving a speech. To the right of him is a UNICEF poster with the SDG icons and says "Bring inclusion" — **Pascal Bijleveld,** CEO of ATscale

“We're nowhere near reaching the SDGs, and yet the idea of inclusion doesn't seem to be on the radar. I'm hoping that with this growing movement around assistive technology we can commit to having a meaningful conversation in the UN General Assembly around inclusion next year.”

A woman, Michele Sumilas, is standing at a podium, with a microphone in hand and giving a speech. Behind her is a large poster with the SDG icons on it and reads: "Bring inclusion". — **Michele Sumilas,** Assistant to the Administrator of the Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning (PPL), USAID

“We also want to make sure improving access to assistive technology is seen as being critical to achieving the SDG goals. Without a massive acceleration and access to assistive products like hearing aids, eyeglasses, wheelchairs, and digital devices that allow people to have active participation in their families, political and economic life, communities, we know inclusion will not be achieved for the 2.5 billion people in need of these technologies. So USAID continues its work in investing money in services to improve the inclusion of persons with disabilities.”

A man, Ambassador Webson stands at a podium giving a speech. He has a vision impairment and is wearing dark glasses. Another man stands next to him and holds up a microphone for him. A UNICEF poster can be seen in the background. — **Ambassador Webson**, Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda

“Assistive technology is a foundation on which we can transform the lives of many and we ought to make it affordable and we ought to make it accessible. We understand that assistive technology is beneficial for the health and well being, for inclusion, and for participation, and the engagement of all people. We are aware that having the right products at the right time in your life can improve a person's quality of life, and can improve inclusion rather than exclude persons from community and social activities.”

A woman, Ruth Warick, is holding a microphone and giving a speech. Another panellist at the event, a wheelchair user, is looking in her direction. The UNHQ can be seen in the background out the window. — **Ruth Warick,** Vice-Chair, International Disability Alliance

“Assistive technology can be a facilitator or can be a barrier and it's going to be a barrier when a person does not have it. Whether it's wheelchairs, refreshable braille, audio, or other processes and devices, these are all assistive technologies we need. The cost of investing in these technologies will be a savings to society. We will save 90 percent over time if we invest in people with disabilities.”

A woman, Aissatou Cisse, is giving a speech at the event. She is a wheelchair user. Another woman is kneeling next to her and holding up a a microphone and other panellists are sitting next to them. — **Aïssatou Cissé,** Special Advisor to the President of Senegal

“In order to make a country more inclusive, first you have to define the needs of different groups of people [...] to then decide on the types of assistive technologies needed.”

A man, Nayem Molla, is sitting down and holding a microphone, giving a speech. He is is sitting in between two other panellists who are looking at him. Behind him is the UNICEF poster on the SDGs. — **Nayem Molla**, IDA Assistive Technology User Fellow, Disability youth activist

“Missing out on AT means losing out on life's chances so I urge all leaders to take concrete actions to make sure everyone, everywhere, has access to affordable and assistive devices. The power of AT is that it makes a person independent. So when you become independent, you can have access to quality education and only by having access to quality education, can you have access to a decent job, and when you can earn money, you can take care of your family and you can be educated for life. This is the way assistive technology works.”

A young girl, Cathy Mantswe, is holding a microphone, giving a speech, she is a wheelchair user. Another woman, is sitting next to her and looking at her and smiling — **Catherine (Cathy) Mantswe**, UNICEF Botswana’s first Youth Advocate

“As a person with a disability, and a learner for that matter, without my assistive device, I would not be able to access my right to education. I would not be able to fulfill SDG 4: Quality Education. We should not see assistive technology as a cost or an expenditure, but as an investment because what if for us to be able to attain our SDG agenda by 2030, we need to provide a young girl or a young boy out there a wheelchair so they enter the office and propose a way forward.”

A woman wearing a bright pink jacket is holding a microphone and standing at a podium, giving a speech. Behind her is the UNICEF poster on the SDGs. — **Tala Ismail Al Ramahi**, Director of Reaching the Last Mile

“Health equity is rooted in inclusion and if we fail to recognize and prioritize this, we will without question fail to deliver on the promises we made in the SDGs.”

Thank you to all our speakers and guests who came to our evening reception.

Full inclusion is key to realize the promise of the SDGs and to leave no one behind, and therefore, to echo the words of our CEO Pascal Bijleveld, we hope that assistive technology will take a more central role at the SDG Summit and UN General Assembly next year.

Photo credits : Alex Mora, DOK Productions

Speakers

For more information about the moderator, speakers and panellists for the event, please click here.

Order of events

The image is a timetable of events for the evening, including the moderator, welcome speech, keynote speech, opening statements, personal testimonies, closing reflections and refreshments and networking

Leaving No One Behind is impossible without universal access to assistive technology. You can find more information on the link between assistive technology and the SDGs on our webpage, Assistive Technology and the SDGs.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Hundevad.