New Accessibility Incubator | Aid Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Austria, May 5th, 2023

2023-05-05 16:24:05

On the Day of Inclusion 2023, the Aid Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Austria will open its start-up center in the area of ​​accessibility.

Vienna (OTS) – Promoting new technological projects and ideas for a barrier-free and inclusive future – that is the goal of the new Accessible Technology Incubator Austria the Aid Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Austria, which will be opened on today’s European day of protest for the equality of people with disabilities, or Day of Inclusion for short. The aim is to support startups and existing companies in the development of assistive technologies and accessible products for people with disabilities.

First projects in the incubator

Two initial projects have recently been supervised in the incubator. Brian Mwiti Mwenda from Kenya has Sixth Sense developed a product that enables blind and visually impaired people to find their way around using dolphin technology. Neha Arora from India would like to come along Planet Abled Make tourism inclusive, in the form of consulting, providing information regarding accessibility and a certificate for companies in tourism, which should result in a general standard for accessible tourism. For the Accessible Technology Incubator she decided because Vienna is a tourism hotspot, is located in the middle of Europe and has a very active network in the field of disabilities. She finds the focus of the incubator very important: “There are hardly any incubators that deal with inclusion. The few focus more on women, but not on new solutions for people with disabilities.“

Accessibility incubator idea

Assistive technologies offer great potential for a self-determined life. Through the national and international exchange, it quickly became clear to the two board members of the aid community that there are a large number of solutions for accessibility, some of which are hardly affordable. At the same time, there is a large market for assistive technologies. As a representative of the interests of blind and visually impaired people, the aid community knows the needs and challenges of people with disabilities. In line with the motto “Nothing regarding us without us”, it also makes sense to include the interests of the community from the outset.

Klaus Höckner, deputy chairman of the board of the aid association: „There are many incubators, but few that focus on accessibility and assistive technologies. When designing new products and services, we should think regarding usability for people with disabilities.“

Elmar Fürst, Chairman of the Board of the Aid Association: „Assistive technologies enable people with disabilities to lead independent lives and improve the lives of all people, including those without disabilities. That was the reason for us to become active in this area and to find new solutions.“

Questions & contact:

Aid organization for the blind and visually impaired in Austria
Eva Rottensteiner
Communication
01/330 35 45 – 23
[e-mail]
www.hilfsgemeinschaft.at

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