We are constantly improving our workshop for supporting the originators and development of innovations, not only technological ones. A topic that has also been exceptionally close lately is accessibility. We understand its importance in everyday life, which is why we support accessible solutions for all and actively participate in events dedicated to this topic.
Our Innovation Manager Beata Seweryn participated in a seminar titled “Universal Design and Technologies to Support Independent Living – Opportunities and Challenges” at the Faculty of Humanities at AGH. The meeting discussed various support programs for people with disabilities, issues related to their active citizenship, or modern technologies supporting independent living. Issues of demographic changes, social structures and the problem of age discrimination were also discussed.
The seminar was unique not only because of the subject matter, but also due to the presence of doctoral student Paulina Gajoch, who, as a blind person, shared her experiences of the problems of poor design and its impact on the lives of people with disabilities. We were also remotely joined by sociologist Beata Cichy, who raised the issue of inaccessible readers and talked about how these difficulties affect people like her, i.e. those with mobility disabilities.
In addition to the broad topic of personal assistance and its form in Poland, Dominika Marszałek-Rojek from the Regional Policy Center for Social Policy reminded us of three innovations, such as voice commands, GPS or facilitated use of the Internet, proposed by the Rainbow association dealing with people with Down syndrome.
The meeting was definitely an inspiring (and motivating!) fuse for broader action on accessibility and the creation of new projects that, as much as possible, will make it easier for people with disabilities to function in society. We believe that every step toward greater accessibility brings us closer to a more inclusive world in which every person has an equal chance to participate fully.
