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Southern Africa Assistive Technology EXPO (SAATE)
26 September - 30 September 2022
Hybrid Event (Virtual / Windhoek)
The Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD) – in partnership with the Loughborough University, the University of Washington, the African Network for Evidence–to–Action in Disability (AfriNEAD), and the Aston University – will jointly organize the Southern Africa Assistive Technology EXPO (SAATE) from 26th to 30th September 2022.
With the main theme, “Wake up and do it for yourself: To promote and advance local AT solutions for Southern Africa,” the event will be held VIRTUALLY.
The SAATE is also part of the Assistive Technology Information Mapping Project (AT-Info-Map), a project of SAFOD, in partnership with the University of Washington and the AfriNEAD, established to map the current availability of different types of AT in ten countries in Southern Africa using a mobile application and web-based database. The project works with local disability organizations to address gaps in AT availability. Attainment of most human rights affecting persons with disabilities may not be achieved without high-quality affordable assistive products and/or information thereof globally.
The SAATE becomes an important component of the project seeking to bring together practical problem solvers, AT suppliers and service providers from Southern Africa and beyond. The event will also aim to facilitate improvements in the AT sector broadly through raising awareness about the need for better AT solutions and/or products particularly in Southern Africa.
The first SAATE was initially planned to take place at Ramatex Conference Centre in Windhoek, Namibia, from 24 to 26 June 2020, but was later postponed to 2022 due to the coronavirus situation globally, with conference format now changed to bybrid (virtual + physical).
The registration to exhibit AT products virtually for both free and premium exhibitors is underway while those who want to present papers or facilitate a workshop, roundtable lecture, or other events can also submit abstracts online. Information about the fees for online public viewing of the exhibitions, or participation in assistive technology workshops, roundtables, lectures, and/or other side events will be published in due course.
In the meantime, SAFOD and partners are holding a series of webinars between September 2021 and September 2022 to build momentum towards the SAATE, with teh first webinar already held on 28 and 29 September 2021. Specific dates for more upcoming webinars in 2022 will be announced in due course.
Please check this page often for new updates!