The United Kingdom’s Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work has opened a Global Disability Innovation (GDI) Hub research lab at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

Tom Pursglove MP opened the GDI Hub’s new research lab to coincide with the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities, being marked today, and to launch the UK Government’s new Disability Action Plan, which aims to improve the lives of disabled people across the UK.

Pursglove also visited the London Aquatics Centre, which hosted swimming events at the London 2012 Paralympics, where he met Paralympians including Susannah Rodgers, who won three bronze medals at the Games, and fellow swimmer Grace Harvey.

Rodgers and Harvey spoke about their experiences of competing at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, as well as the impact of the London 2012 Olympics legacy work by the British Paralympic Association.

I'm delighted to be announcing the Government's commitment to a DisabilityActionPlan, which is about quickly getting on and delivering on key themes, issues and challenges that disabled people face

- Minister for Disabled People

— Disability Unit 

I’ll be bringing forward our Disability Action Plan in 2023 to build on Government reform of the disability agenda, underlining our global leadership on disability rights and leading the way in areas such as assistive tech and accessibility,

 Pursglove said during the visit.

It was inspiring to visit the GDI’s new research lab where this type of innovation is in action — unlocking opportunities so that more disabled people can reach their potential.

The GDI Hub is set to act as a base for researching and creating new advanced technologies, ranging from artificial intelligence-powered navigation aids for visually impaired people, to using mobile communication to strengthen disabled communities.

A consultation on the Disability Action Plan is due to take place in early 2023, with members of the public able to have their say on the development of policies within the plan.

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