Global Alliance of Assistive Technology Organizations (GAATO)
Disabled people, AT professionals, and advocates join GAATO’s global alliance to coordinate standards and share knowledge when fragmented systems block access to assistive technology.1 2
ENABLE Model location
What it is
According to AAATE, “The Global Alliance of Assistive Technology Organizations (GAATO) is a new world body based in Geneva, Switzerland, representing global assistive technology (AT). GAATO works strategically and globally towards a world where all people can access the assistive technology they need.”2 GAATO’s own materials describe it as a non‑profit association of membership organizations that collaborates on policy, research, education, advocacy, and knowledge exchange.1 AAATE also notes that GAATO’s members have a track record of advancing people’s rights to appropriate assistive technology through practice, research, education, advocacy, and knowledge exchange.2
Dozens of countries have assistive technology organizations that pursue devices and software for residents with disabilities. GAATO was formalised with a General Assembly in 2019 to provide a unified global voice for membership organizations.2 GAATO represents multiple regional and national AT membership organizations and promotes research and discussion worldwide; it also engages with global actors such as WHO and UNICEF on assistive‑technology policy and data.1 5 GAATO’s public leadership listing names Evert‑Jan Hoogerwerf as Secretary‑General and Luc de Witte as President, and GAATO states its focus on collaborative research, policy advocacy, education, and capacity building.1
Why it matters
When builders and policymakers fail to coordinate AT standards and procurement, disabled people and service providers face fragmented, unreliable systems. GAATO represents a builder-side intervention at the requirement-setting and content stages: it helps unify the field, share knowledge, and advocate for evidence-based policy. As AAATE notes, “GAATO works strategically and globally towards a world where all people can access the assistive technology they need.”2 This reduces the burden on individual users and local organizations, shifting responsibility upstream to those with the power to set standards and influence markets.
Real-world example
GAATO’s first General Assembly was held in 2019 (Bologna), formalising the alliance and expanding membership drawn from organisations in Europe, North America, Asia and beyond.2 AAATE and other regional associations are listed among GAATO’s founding or early member organisations.2 3
What care sounds like (builder-side interventions)
Care at the requirement-setting stage involves:
- "We are joining GAATO to ensure our national AT standards align with global best practices."
- "We collaborate internationally so that people with disabilities can access the right technology, wherever they live."
- "We must share research and policy models to reduce duplication and fragmentation."
What neglect sounds like (builder-side interventions)
Neglect involves:
- "We don't need to coordinate with other countries or organizations."
- "Our standards are good enough; global alignment isn't necessary."
- "Let each provider figure it out on their own."
What compensation sounds like (navigator-side compensations)
Compensation describes the labor users and local providers undertake when upstream care is absent:
- "I had to research and import my own device because local services didn't know what was available."
- "We rely on word-of-mouth and informal networks to find out about new AT."
- "I had to adapt a product myself because there was no guidance or support."
All observations occur within the context of global assistive technology systems, focusing on the intersection of policy, procurement, and user needs.