Category: Disability

Aging, Bank of innovations, Disability, New service, New technological tool, Personalization of the service, User empowerment

Banc d’innovacions

Rehab-Lab.Cat network launches to boost autonomy for people with disabilities through 3D printing

The Rehab-Lab.Cat network expands with 10 new organizations across Catalonia, establishing itself as a leader in the production of customized functional aids using 3D printing

VinculApp, mobile application to facilitate leisure for people with disabilities

PrevenSI, prevention of child sexual abuse

Prevention of Sexual Child Abuse

Innobreak: Noves mirades en la prevenció i intervenció de la Violència sexual infantil

New Perspectives on the Prevention and Intervention of Child Sexual Violence

PrevenSI (Intress) and Barnahus (Save the Children). Tuesday, February 11, 2025. Registration Open

Acctua, a technological solution promoting digital accessibility on the Internet

Acctua is a technological service that promotes digitial accessibility and digital inclusion.

Entrevista a Josep Maria Solé - Per innovar, cal atrevir-s'hi

Josep Maria Solé: “To innovate, you need to dare, and daring must embrace the risk of making mistakes.”

Josep Maria Solé is a lawyer and the director of the Support-Girona Foundation. He also serves as a trustee and president of the Social Council of the Guttmann Institute Foundation, vice president of the DRISSA Foundation, and a member of the board of the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD), among other roles. Since 2024, he has been president of the iSocial Foundation, succeeding Montse Cervera. We spoke with him to share his vision for the foundation and the need for innovation in the social sector

Acctua, a technological solution promoting digital accessibility on the Internet

Ferran Benito on 23 January 2025

An initiative that facilitates Internet access and digital inclusion

In Spain, more than one million people face digital accessibility issues when accessing the Internet. This number rises to 16 million when considering difficulties stemming from physical or age-related limitations. The Acctua project is an innovative initiative aimed at facilitating access to web content and services for all users, regardless of their age and abilities.

Acctua offers an accessible and adaptable solution thanks to its intelligent interface, which allows web navigation through various modalities such as keyboard, voice commands, or other alternative mechanisms, ensuring an inclusive experience.

Moreover, the service does not require the installation of additional software or hardware by the user, as it is directly integrated into the visited web pages. The system is compatible with the most popular platforms and browsers, and operates through the cloud, allowing access from any computer. Through different navigation modes, such as sound modulation or switches, Acctua ensures that people with visual and mobility impairments or cognitive limitations can easily access digital content.

Características de la innovación

Location

Spain

Partners / Funders

Acctua – Inclusive Access Award is supported by Distrito Digital Comunitat Valenciana, XarxaTec, the Diversity Charter of the Diversity Foundation, and the Avalem Joves 2023 program of the Generalitat Valenciana.

Genesis

The initiative, created in 2021, aims to be a tool that facilitates the accessibility and inclusivity of the digital space.

Implementation Level

The various companies and institutions that use Acctua – such as Campofrío, the Government of Andorra, or the City Council of Valladolid – rate the web accessibility of the initiative at 9.61 out of 10.

Más información

New technological tool, Disability, User empowerment

Banc d’innovacions

VinculApp, mobile application to facilitate leisure for people with disabilities

PrevenSI, prevention of child sexual abuse

Prevention of Sexual Child Abuse

Acctua, a technological solution promoting digital accessibility on the Internet

Acctua is a technological service that promotes digitial accessibility and digital inclusion.

Soy yo literal, a Digital Platform for Youth Mental Health

Soy yo literal is a digital platform promoting mental health among young people

FOKUS PI, an application that facilitates digital social planning

FOKUS PI is a a decision-making support tool for professionals in the social, healthcare, and educational sectors

BCI, a device that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

The BCI is a technological innovation that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

BCI, a device that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

Laura Hurtado on 25 September 2024

Technological innovation that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

The brain-computer device, known as BCI (Brain-Computer Interface), is a technological innovation designed to restore communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

This system translates brain signals into audible words, providing a solution for those who have lost the ability to speak due to muscle paralysis. Through sensors implanted in the brain, the device can decode the patient’s speech intentions and convert them into artificial voice.

BCI technology allows patients to regain their ability to communicate with family and friends, even in spontaneous conversation settings, by detecting and interpreting brain signals. The use of neural networks and advanced algorithms enables the device to offer high accuracy in word translation, surpassing other voice recognition technologies.

This advancement represents hope not only for ALS patients but also for people with other communication-impairing conditions, such as strokes or spinal cord injuries.

Characteristics of innovation

Localization

United States

Partners / Funders

Brown University, Emory University, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, Stanford University, UC Davis, US Department of Veterans Affairs

Genesis

The first clinical trial was conducted with a 45-year-old ALS patient who regained the ability to communicate with 97.5% accuracy. The man underwent surgical implantation of four microelectrodes that recorded his brain activity. Speech attempts were decoded through a screen, and voice software vocalized the words, mimicking his pre-illness voice.

Level of implementation

On the first day of use (25 days post-surgery), the neuroprosthesis achieved 99.6% accuracy with a 50-word vocabulary. The system was calibrated in 30 minutes as the man attempted to speak. By the second day, after 1.4 additional hours of training, the accuracy was 90.2% with a 125,000-word vocabulary. After more training, the neuroprosthesis maintained 97.5% accuracy over 8.4 months, and the man used it to communicate in conversations at a rate of about 32 words per minute, for over 248 accumulated hours.

Publications, Aging, Cross-cutting intervention, Disability, Group intervention, Link with the community, Mental health, New service, Self-management and participation

Banc d’innovacions

VinculApp, mobile application to facilitate leisure for people with disabilities

PrevenSI, prevention of child sexual abuse

Prevention of Sexual Child Abuse

Acctua, a technological solution promoting digital accessibility on the Internet

Acctua is a technological service that promotes digitial accessibility and digital inclusion.

Soy yo literal, a Digital Platform for Youth Mental Health

Soy yo literal is a digital platform promoting mental health among young people

FOKUS PI, an application that facilitates digital social planning

FOKUS PI is a a decision-making support tool for professionals in the social, healthcare, and educational sectors

BCI, a device that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

The BCI is a technological innovation that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

Cuppa, virtual meetups for unpaid carers

Laura Hurtado on 18 September 2024

Video calls aimed at carers with the goal of sharing experiences and building community

Cuppa is a free 45-minute virtual meetup program specially designed for unpaid carers. Through video calls, around a dozen carers come together to share their experiences, offer support, and meet others in similar situations in a safe and understanding environment.

The meetings are moderated by a host, also a carer, who facilitates the conversation and ensures everyone has the opportunity to speak. The sessions are simple and accessible, requiring only a device with internet and a microphone. Using the camera is recommended but not essential, and there is also the option to interact via chat.

Additionally, to cater to the varying needs of carers, a wide range of time slots is available, and attendance is unlimited. Cuppa aims not only to provide emotional support to carers but also to create a network of people who share tips and experiences, always with a touch of humor and optimism.

Characteristics of innovation

Localization

Regne Unit

Partners / Funders

Mobilise has worked with more than 30 local authorities, carer support organizations, and integrated care boards, such as NHS, Tower Hamlets, or Essex County Council. It is also funded by the social impact investment company Zinc.

Genesis

On March 18, 2020, Mobilise organized the first Cuppa, a space during the pandemic to share experiences among those who care for others. The first 100 sessions were part of the CIRCLE research project: “Caring during lockdown: Challenges and opportunities for digitally supporting carers”, in collaboration with the University of Sheffield and the University of Liverpool.

Level of implementation

Since its inception, Cuppa has involved 577,000 unpaid carers in the UK, with 90,000 support interactions recorded between community members, according to the latest data from 2023. Furthermore, the Cuppa project has been recognized with several awards, winning first place at the Global Content Awards 2022 and second place at the Learning Technologies Awards 2022 in the category “Best Use of Social and Collaborative Technologies.” In addition, Mobilise has earned B Corp certification, recognizing the entity’s high standard of social impact.

Publications, Aging, Disability, New technological tool, Process simplification, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Banc d’innovacions

VinculApp, mobile application to facilitate leisure for people with disabilities

PrevenSI, prevention of child sexual abuse

Prevention of Sexual Child Abuse

Acctua, a technological solution promoting digital accessibility on the Internet

Acctua is a technological service that promotes digitial accessibility and digital inclusion.

Soy yo literal, a Digital Platform for Youth Mental Health

Soy yo literal is a digital platform promoting mental health among young people

FOKUS PI, an application that facilitates digital social planning

FOKUS PI is a a decision-making support tool for professionals in the social, healthcare, and educational sectors

BCI, a device that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

The BCI is a technological innovation that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

ATENEA, device adapted to combat the digital divide

Laura Hurtado on 10 September 2024

An adapted device that contributes to the digital and technological transformation of social services, focusing on the most vulnerable citizens

The ATENEA system uses a buttonless mobile phone with a highly simplified user interface that enables vulnerable groups, such as the elderly or people with disabilities, to manage their basic needs and request social services digitally. The device only requires voice use and operates through a voicebot that combines natural language processing and artificial intelligence to engage in smooth and agile conversations with users.

The main goal is to reduce the digital gap and ensure everyone has access to the necessary technology to improve their quality of life. Additionally, ATENEA seeks to mitigate unwanted loneliness through easy communication with their immediate environment and increase personal safety by requesting assistance in emergencies.

Furthermore, the tool facilitates access to basic goods such as food through online shopping, helps people orient themselves in space and time, and simplifies interaction with social services by scheduling appointments and enabling direct communication with social workers.

Characteristics of innovation

Localization

Catalonia

Partners / Funders

Momentum Analytics, Samsung, Microsoft, Verbio, Raona, Secretariat of Digital Policies of the Government of Catalonia, Catalonia Cybersecurity Agency, University of Barcelona, Next Generation EU Funds through the Department of Social Rights

Genesis

ATENEA was introduced on October 17, 2023, at the Smart City Expo Congress during the event on “Innovative Solutions for Social Inclusion,” organized by Momentum Analytics and the ABD group. The pilot test involved five municipalities (Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Mollet del Vallès, Premià de Mar, Manlleu, and Vall d’Aran) and 500 users.

Level of implementation

Over the past year, the ABD Group has supported 160,805 people, including 1,675 elderly people in home care services, nursing homes, and housing with support services, and 330 people with intellectual disabilities.

New technological tool, Disability, Independent living, Link with the community, Personalization of the service, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Banc d’innovacions

VinculApp, mobile application to facilitate leisure for people with disabilities

PrevenSI, prevention of child sexual abuse

Prevention of Sexual Child Abuse

Acctua, a technological solution promoting digital accessibility on the Internet

Acctua is a technological service that promotes digitial accessibility and digital inclusion.

Soy yo literal, a Digital Platform for Youth Mental Health

Soy yo literal is a digital platform promoting mental health among young people

FOKUS PI, an application that facilitates digital social planning

FOKUS PI is a a decision-making support tool for professionals in the social, healthcare, and educational sectors

BCI, a device that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

The BCI is a technological innovation that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

Virtual Metaverse to Improve Daily Skills of People with Intellectual Disabilities

Laura Hurtado on 31 July 2024

Avatar that enables learning daily skills to enhance the autonomy of people with intellectual disabilities

Plena Inclusión Aragón and Cooperativa Kairós have developed a “metaverse” that allows practicing and learning daily skills through an avatar, aiming for people with intellectual disabilities to improve their autonomy and social participation.

The metaverse includes eight dimensions, in the form of virtual doors, symbolizing the central areas of a quality life: emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, material well-being, personal development, physical well-being, self-determination, social inclusion, and rights. Some of the virtual activities that can be performed through the avatar include exercising, meeting friends, or participating in community activities. The application presents challenges in different areas and offers virtual rewards, such as avatar customization, thereby using gamification to encourage a healthy and fulfilling life.

The tool not only benefits people with disabilities in making decisions, but also allows professionals working with them to better understand their feelings and personal needs, expressed through the avatars. The creation of the metaverse is part of the project “Mi Casa: una vida en comunidad”, a model of deinstitutionalized long-term care for people with intellectual disabilities.

Characteristics of innovation

Localization

Aragón

Partners / Funders

Imascono, Department of Citizenship and Social Rights of the Government of Aragón, Next Generation EU Funds

Genesis

This metaverse was designed by the cooperative Kairós and the regional federations of Plena Inclusión, together with the augmented reality and metaverse studio Imascono, and was presented on February 19, 2024, in Zaragoza.

Initially, it was tested with six people living in the apartments that are part of “Mi Casa: una vida en comunida”, a program launched in 2022 that promotes the autonomy of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through an alternative model of long-term residential care.

Level of implementation

According to Amor Numancia, the coordinator of the disability area of Cooperativa Kairós, the metaverse is an innovative solution that advances the quality of life of people and involves them in their life plans.

Moreover, according to June 2024 data from Plena Inclusión Aragón, the “Mi Casa: una vida en comunidad” program has shown significant improvements in the autonomy and quality of life of its users. It has also had a positive impact on families and the community.

New technological tool, Aging, Disability, Link with the community, Mental health, Personalization of the service, Prediction and prevention, Proximity care, Right of choice of the user, Speed up response times, User empowerment

Banc d’innovacions

VinculApp, mobile application to facilitate leisure for people with disabilities

PrevenSI, prevention of child sexual abuse

Prevention of Sexual Child Abuse

Acctua, a technological solution promoting digital accessibility on the Internet

Acctua is a technological service that promotes digitial accessibility and digital inclusion.

Soy yo literal, a Digital Platform for Youth Mental Health

Soy yo literal is a digital platform promoting mental health among young people

FOKUS PI, an application that facilitates digital social planning

FOKUS PI is a a decision-making support tool for professionals in the social, healthcare, and educational sectors

BCI, a device that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

The BCI is a technological innovation that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

Predictive Telecare Service in Home Care

Laura Hurtado on 17 July 2024

Predictive telecare that allows for preventive and personalized action

The Adinberri Foundation has launched a telecare service that enables anticipation and action through a personalized intervention plan based on the 4P model: prediction, prevention, personalization, and participation. The initiative aims to address social issues such as loneliness, home safety, abuse, cognitive decline, and lack of socio-family support.

The predictive model operates through technological solutions such as speech processing, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, Big Data, IoT (Internet of Things), and technologies that facilitate interoperability and standardization, such as open platforms.

The system will be integrated into the Public Telecare Service of Euskadi (betiON), a service that allows users to communicate with specialized professionals in emergency or risk situations. BetiON can be used by people over 75 years old who live alone, people over 65 years old in situations or at risk of dependency, people with various types of disabilities or mental illnesses, and people in situations of social isolation.

Characteristics of innovation

Localization

Euskadi

Partners / Funders

Tunstall Televida, Igualatori Mèdic Quirúrgic (IMQ) i Gestió de Serveis Residencials (GSR)

Genesis

In 2008, the Social Services Law attributed the provision of telecare to the Basque Government. Later, in 2011, BetiON was created, a service promoted by the Department of Employment and Social Policies, with sociosanitary coordination as the central axis.

In 2023, the Adinberri Foundation met with the Oarsoaldea municipalities to present, together with the Basque Government, the predictive telecare project. This project lasts for 18 months and is being carried out in 100 homes of current BetiON users. The project uses innovative technological tools such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, advanced analytics, speech processing, and IoT (Internet of Things).

Level of implementation

The latest available data from the BetiON service, from 2022, shows more than 63,000 users. This represents an annual increase of 0.7% compared to 2021. Additionally, in 2022, 373,776 calls were received through telecare terminals and the button. Furthermore, according to BetiON, the general user satisfaction index in 2022 is 4.5 out of 5.

New technological tool, Disability, Innovative organization, Personalization of the service, User empowerment

Banc d’innovacions

VinculApp, mobile application to facilitate leisure for people with disabilities

PrevenSI, prevention of child sexual abuse

Prevention of Sexual Child Abuse

Acctua, a technological solution promoting digital accessibility on the Internet

Acctua is a technological service that promotes digitial accessibility and digital inclusion.

Soy yo literal, a Digital Platform for Youth Mental Health

Soy yo literal is a digital platform promoting mental health among young people

FOKUS PI, an application that facilitates digital social planning

FOKUS PI is a a decision-making support tool for professionals in the social, healthcare, and educational sectors

BCI, a device that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

The BCI is a technological innovation that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

From your eyes, AI technological tools for visually impaired people

Laura Hurtado on 10 July 2024

AI-based solutions to improve the daily lives of visually impaired people

From Your Eyes (FYE) is a company specializing in computer vision that develops solutions based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that mimic the visual function of the human brain to recognize, track, and categorize objects and people through camera image processing.

FYE’s AI model allows real-time processing of images and videos, includes a dataset of over 15 million data points, achieves an accuracy of 98.03%, and processes content in just 15 milliseconds. The tool is also capable of identifying 865 different colors, can operate without cloud connectivity, and incorporates strict data protection security measures.

FYE applies all this technological knowledge in two tools that improve the daily lives of visually impaired people. First, the FYE mobile application allows users to create their own AI assistants to receive descriptions of photos, videos, and visual documents, and can be integrated into various devices. Second, FYE Vehicle Vision enhances the driving experience on the road with integrated cameras to analyze the environment and provide personalized services. It also offers tools such as augmented reality navigation, virtual travel companions, gesture control, and intelligent assistance, among others.

Característiques de la innovació

Localització

Istanbul, Turkey

Col·laboradors / Finançadors

Gènesi

La creadora de From Your Eyes, Zülal Tannur, va néixer amb un 5% de visió. Des de ben petita, va aprendre sobre els objectes a través d’imatges a l’ordinador, fet que va fer que la tecnologia es convertís en una part important de la seva vida. Als 10 anys va perdre completament la visió i, des d’aquell moment, va començar a desenvolupar eines que permetessin aprendre de la mateixa manera en què ella ho havia fet fins llavors. Després de col·laborar en nombroses iniciatives per a persones amb discapacitat visual, l’any 2020 va ser nomenada Dona Líder Superadora de Barreres per Microsoft. Més tard, l’any 2023, va crear From Your Eyes.

Nivell d’implantació

From Your Eyes va guanyar el Microsoft’s Imagine Cup World Championship (2024) i la Categoria de Tecnologies per a una Vida Sense Barreres en el Programa d’Acceleració del Concurs d’Emprenedoria de TEKNOFEST (2023), entre altres reconeixements. Zülal Tannur va ser escollida l’any 2023 en el programa Google Women Techmakers de Google, que recolza a les desenvolupadores de tecnologia.

Disability, Independent living, Innovative organization, New model of intervention, Personalization of the service, Self-management and participation, User empowerment

Banc d’innovacions

VinculApp, mobile application to facilitate leisure for people with disabilities

PrevenSI, prevention of child sexual abuse

Prevention of Sexual Child Abuse

Acctua, a technological solution promoting digital accessibility on the Internet

Acctua is a technological service that promotes digitial accessibility and digital inclusion.

Soy yo literal, a Digital Platform for Youth Mental Health

Soy yo literal is a digital platform promoting mental health among young people

FOKUS PI, an application that facilitates digital social planning

FOKUS PI is a a decision-making support tool for professionals in the social, healthcare, and educational sectors

BCI, a device that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

The BCI is a technological innovation that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

Manawanui, Self-Directed Support for people with disabilities

Laura Hurtado on 12 June 2024

Project aimed at enhancing the autonomy and freedom of choice for people with disabilities

Manawanui is an initiative that promotes Self-Directed Support, a system of assistance that encourages people with disabilities to choose, through a personal budget, how, when, and with whom they manage the care services they receive.

Through these personalized budgets, “agents” (mostly volunteers) guide and accompany users in decision-making and self-management of these services. The main goal is to place the person at the center and promote their autonomy.

Users develop a personal life plan and are responsible for managing home care services, hiring necessary personnel, and setting their own goals. In this way, people with disabilities gain independence and freedom of choice in their daily lives.

Característiques de la innovació

Localització

New Zeland

Col·laboradors / Finançadors

–

Gènesi

Manawanui was created in 2004 and has become a leading and pioneering initiative in self-managed funding for people with disabilities in New Zealand.

Nivell d’implantació

According to Manawanui, 26% of the population under 65 in New Zealand eligible for the program is enrolled in the project. The organization has more than 3,500 users in total, 68% of whom are under 35 years old.

New technological tool, Disability, Innovative organization, Personalization of the service, User empowerment

Banc d’innovacions

VinculApp, mobile application to facilitate leisure for people with disabilities

PrevenSI, prevention of child sexual abuse

Prevention of Sexual Child Abuse

Acctua, a technological solution promoting digital accessibility on the Internet

Acctua is a technological service that promotes digitial accessibility and digital inclusion.

Soy yo literal, a Digital Platform for Youth Mental Health

Soy yo literal is a digital platform promoting mental health among young people

FOKUS PI, an application that facilitates digital social planning

FOKUS PI is a a decision-making support tool for professionals in the social, healthcare, and educational sectors

BCI, a device that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

The BCI is a technological innovation that restores communication in patients with neurodegenerative diseases

Morphic, technology that improves computer accessibility for people with disabilities

Laura Hurtado on 5 June 2024

Application that allows computers to be adapted to the different needs of people with disabilities

According to the organization Raising the Floor, one in five people in the world has some form of disability. Only 19% of these people are employed, in contrast with 64% of people without disabilities. Regarding students, 20% have some form of disability.

Morphic is an application that improves the accessibility of computers for people with various types of disabilities. The platform allows one-click access to integrated accessibility functions through a customizable menu. Some of the program’s functions include changing text size, applying a magnifier to specific fragments, enabling text-to-speech, changing color contrast, or setting dark mode, among others.

Additionally, the “Assistive Technology (AT) on Demand” mode allows AT users to access their tools on any computer, regardless of whether the computers have them installed beforehand or not. The goal is to promote digital equity for people with various limitations. This functionality can be applied at home, work, library, school, etc. Different organizations and establishments can make AT appear automatically on any computer, and once the user has finished the session, it will disappear. All this in an efficient and simple manner.

Characteristics of innovation

Localization

Washington (USA)

Partners / Funders

Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center of the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Administration for Community Living of the United States, Health and Human Services, Trace Center (University of Maryland), Rehabilitation Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Education, Inclusive Design Research Center (IDRC) of the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) University in Toronto, and the European Union, among others.

Genesis

Morphic emerged in 2016 from the work of an international consortium of organizations led by Raising the Floor, the Trace Center at the University of Maryland, and the Inclusive Design Research Center at OCAD University, all focused on the universal design of information and communication technologies.

Currently, the non-profit organization Raising the Floor, founded in 2012, manages Morphic, from software development to community building, growth, and sustainability.

Level of implementation

Currently, Morphic operates on more than 10,000 computers at universities, libraries, community centers, rehabilitation programs, and workplaces in the USA and Canada, and recently received the Zero Project Award 2024. The initiative was chosen from 523 nominations from 97 countries for its pioneering innovation in improving computer access for people with various disabilities.