Global Disability Innovation Hub launches ‘Lived Experience Experts Bench’
Global Disability Innovation Hub’s (GDI Hub) new Lived Experience Experts Bench is for people with specific experience of disability who wish to provide expert insights and reflections to drive disability innovation impact globally.
GDI Hub is guided by an advisory board made up of disabled people, with representatives from three continents. It works five thematic areas: accessible and assistive technology, inclusive design, inclusive education technology, inclusive climate, crisis resilience and cultural participation.
Co-design is central to its research, innovation accelerators, global programmes and teaching. GDI Hub aims to drive new thinking together, build innovative solutions that are inclusive, accessible and better than before. As a result of working alongside the people most affected by these issues, GDI Hub hopes to help create the best solutions for everyone.
GDI Hub is often asked about ways to further engage with its work and how to get involved in the co-design process. To facilitate this, it established the GDI Hub Expert Bench: Lived Experience.
The first opportunity is integrated with disability, design, and innovation, to support aspiring disability innovation pioneers. Expert Bench members will provide invaluable insights and perspectives – with unique masterclass training to up-skill in the processes of design and development.
Members will work alongside student groups to showcase the critical importance of co-design in the product development process.
The masterclass will act as a mechanism to bridge experiences, maximising input through up-skilling in the product design process. The masterclass is designed to develop innovation skills, creativity and “designers’ spirit”. No previous experience of product development or design is required.
GDI Hub will share opportunities of relevance within the remit of its areas of work and bench members can choose to engage in the projects based on the parameters of each project.
With varying opportunities such as mentorship or engaging with student projects to support an aspiring disability innovation pioneer at the early stages of their career, and product development and testing to support innovators or researchers in the concept generation or refinement of an idea.
Opportunities may also include research contributions to help further the understanding or impact of assistive technology, policy, programmes or environments, and challenge setting to identify areas of opportunity for the development of new products or technologies or looking for new solutions.
GDI Hub welcomes members to the Expert Bench from all corners of the world, some opportunities may be location specific, other will be remote opportunities.
As opportunities arise, GDI Hub will reach out to Expert Bench members with details. Joining the Experts Bench does not require any initial commitment or minimum engagement as different opportunities will appeal to different audiences.
