ZERO PROJECT 2021 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED!

The Zero Project is happy to announce the Shortlist of projects for the Zero Project Award 2021! These nominated Practices and Policies have made it through a detailed quality check and through one round of peer-reviewing from experts – with and without disabilities – from around the world. From an incredible 475 nominations, 178 nominations have made it through to the Shortlist. So, congratulations to all the nominated Practices and Policies for passing the first hurdle!

The final vote is currently underway, which will determine which of these great projects will be finally selected as 2021 Zero Project Awardees on the topic of Employment and ICT for people with disabilities. Around 75 Practices and 10 Policies will be chosen to be featured in the annual Zero Project Report and given speaking roles at the Conference to share their important and impactful work which supports employment for people with disabilities.

 

Good luck to all remaining projects in the final vote!

 

The full list of shortlisted practices and policies is:

 

AFGHANISTAN

  • Afghan Amputee Bicyclists for Rehabilitation And Recreation (AABRAR) –  Creating Mobility

ARGENTINA

  • Incluyeme.com – Incluyeme.com

AUSTRALIA

  • Ability Options – WorkReady Program
  • Australian Network on Disability – Stepping Into Internship Program

AUSTRIA

  • Atempo / CFS Ava – Der Onlinemarktplatz für Persönliche Assistenz
  • autArK Soziale Dienstleistungs GmbH – Beratungsservice für Unternehmen
  • autArK Soziale Dienstleistungs GmbH – Inklusives Kleinunternehmen Bistro-Flitzer
  • DM – Drogerie Markt – Barrierefrei im Kopf
  • FAB ProWork – FAB Neue Wege in den Arbeitsmarkt
  • Institut für Epilepsie – Arbeitsplatzevaluierung für DienstnehmerInnen mit Epilepsie in Österreich
  • Lebenshilfen Soziale Dienste Gmbh – Step by Step
  • Light for the World International – Make 12.4% Work Initiative
  • Marien Apotheke Wien – Ausbildung und Beratung von gehörlosen Menschen
  • MVG – Monopolverwaltung Gmbh – Meine Trafik meine Zukunft – Menschen mit Behinderung werden Unternehmer
  • myAbility Social Enterprise GmbH – myAbility Talent® Programm
  • ÖAMTC – ÖAMTC Projekt Einstellungssache
  • VIDEBIS GmbH Videbis GmbH

BANGLADESH

  • Access Bangladesh Foundation – Creating Entrepreneurs with Disabilities through Green Business
  • Bangladesh Business & Disability Network – Establishment of Business & Disability Network to facilitate Employment
  • BRAC Skills Development Programme STAR – Skills Training for Advancing Resources
  • Centre for Services and Information on Disability – Creating Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities within the ICT Division of Bangladesh Government
  • Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed – Inclusive Job Centre (IJC)
  • Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed – Skill Development Training Facilities for People with Disabilities
  • Disabled Rehabilitation & Research Association (DRRA) – Inclusive Micro-Finance for Poverty Graduate
  • PFDA-Vocational Training Center Trust –  Inclusive and Supportive Employment Opportunities for Persons with Neuro-Developmental Disorders

BELGIUM

  • DiversiCom – Making Disability Work
  • Passwerk – Passwerk

BOTSWANA

  • Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD) – Assistive Technology Information Mapping Project (AT-Info-Map)

BRAZIL

  • Egalité Inclusion & Diversity – Egalité, Inclusion and Diversity
  • Instituto Jô Clemente – Professional Inclusion

BULGARIA

  • JAMBA Career For All – JAMBA Career For All

CAMBODIA

  • Light for the World Cambodia / Essential Personnel Cambodia – Accessible Employment

CANADA

  • Avalon Employment Inc. Avalon Employment Inc. Autism Employment Facilitator
  • Community Living Sarnia-Lambton jobPath Employment Discovery
  • Fable Tech Labs – Fable Tech Labs
  • Government of Canada – The Accessibility, Accommodation and Adaptive Computer Technology (AAACT) Program
  • Government of Canada – Workplace Wellness Service Centre

CHILE

  • ALSINO – Solidarity Village ALSINO
  • AVANZA Inclusión – Vocational Exploration and Transit to Adult Life Program
  • Caja Los Andes – Diversity and Inclusion Area at Caja Los Andes
  • Empresas SB – Diversity Management System
  • Ronda Chile Foundation – The Inclusive Social Responsibility (ISR) Model
  • Ministry of Labour of Chile – Law 21.015
  • Municipality of Providencia – Labour Inclusion Programme
  • SENCE – National Training and Employment Service Prepare for Work Programme for Persons with Disabilities
  • Red Apis – Vi-Sor
  • SecoChile – Eco Car-washing Service
  • SKBERGÉ – SKBERGÉ Inclusion Program

CHINA

  • CareER Association – CareER Programme

COLOMBIA

  • Corporación Crear Unidos – Inclusion creates Unity
  • Federacion Nacional de Sordos de Colombia – FENASCOL – Relay Center – Bridging Worlds, Connecting Ideas
  • Saldarriaga Concha Foundation – Turning Enterprises into Inclusive Companies
  • Programa Pacto de Productividad – Productivity Pact Program
  • SENA – National Training Service – Training for Employment and Human Development for Persons with Disabilities

COSTA RICA

  • Ministry of Labour and Social Security of Costa Rica – Inclusive Employment: Promoting Soft Skills and Employment Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities

DENMARK

  • Lev – Inclusion Denmark KLAPjob

EGYPT

  • Ebtessama Foundation – Majidah Platform
  • Helm – Workplace Inclusive Solutions

ETHIOPIA

  • Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD) – Guideline for Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in TVET
  • Teki Paper Bags  – Teki Paper Bags

FINLAND

  • City of Helsinki – Supported Employment Service City of Helsinki
  • Ihme ja Kumma –  Ihme ja Kumma Workshop for Persons with Disabilities

FRANCE

  • ActivAction Inclusive Peer Support for Persons with Disabilities
  • Delta Process – Tadeo
  • Humanity & Inclusion – Disability Inclusive Poverty Graduation
  • Humanity & Inclusion – Forward Together: Empowering youth with disabilities in Asia
  • Humanity & Inclusion – Labor Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities, Parents and Mentors
  • My Human Kit – Humanlab

GERMANY

  • Allgemeiner Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverein (ABSV) – DL Kontakt Manager
  • AfB Gemeinnützige GmbH – AfB Social & Green IT
  • Alexianer Textilpflege GmbH – Inklusion ist nicht nur ein Schlagwort – wir leben Inklusion
  • Europäisches Kompetenzzentrum für Barrierefreiheit e.V. – EUKOBA SENSE Akademie
  • Un-Label e.V. – Un-Label Performing Arts Company

GUATEMALA

  •  Association for Training and Technical Assistance in Education and Disability (ASCATED ) –  Employment for Youth with Visual Impairments
  • Benemérito Comité Pro-Ciegos y Sordos de Guatemala – Labor Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Program

HUNGARY

  • Hungarian Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing –  WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER!
  • Kék Madár Alapítvány – Scaling Izlelo restaurants

INDIA

  • AIMS Media Pvt. Ltd. – Ability Enhancement Multimedia Programme
  • Amar Seva Sangam – Entrepreneurship through Microfinance and Bank Loans in Rural Tamil Nadu
  • Billion Ables Services Pvt Ltd – BillionAbles
  • DAISY Forum of India – Sugamaya Pustakalaya
  • Enable India – Educate Yourself Easily (EYE)
  • Thiruppani Trust Association –  Enabling Skill Training to Differently-Abled for Sustainable Livelihood
  • MITTI Cafe – Mitti Café
  • Naman Seva Samiti Ujjawal – Disability Inclusive Livelihood Initiative
  • Sarthak Educational Trust – Enhanced Disability Diversity and Inclusion among corporates
  • Sense International India Income Generation Activities for Persons with Deafblindness
  • Wipro Limited Inclusive Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities
  • YOUTH4JOBS FOUNDATION Youth4Jobs College Connect

INDONESIA

  • DNetwork (Disability Network) – DNetwork (Jaringan Kerja Disabilitas)

IRELAND

  • Cope Foundation – Ability@Work
  • NUI Galway Transition to Employment Program
  • Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities – Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities Graduate Internship Programme

ISRAEL

  • Avital Yanovsky – Diversity in High Tech High-Tech Runway
  • Enosh – The Israeli Mental Health Association MAOF – Entrepreneurship Program ‏for people with psychosocial disabilities
  • Gevasol – Gevasol
  • Israel Electric Corporation – Nitzan Or
  • itworks – Technology Accessibility Program (TAP)
  • LOTEM – Accessible Nature Guide
  • Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare and Social Services – The Tomorrow Programs

ITALY

  • Pedius Pedius Work Inclusion for TIM

JAPAN

  • Mirairo Inc. – Mirairo ID
  • Takeda – Resource Group EnAble

JORDAN

  • The Sana Association – Work Coach Programmes for Persons with Disabilities

KENYA

  • Riziki Source – Riziki Source App

LEBANON

  • Lebanese Union for People with Physical Disabilities – Improving Socio-Economic Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities
  • ProAbled – ProAbled

MAURITIUS

  • Inclusion Mauritius – Supported Employment and Technical Training for Young Adults with Intellectual Disabilities’’

MEXICO

  • Alianza Éntrale AC – Entrale.org
  • Alianza Éntrale AC – The Index of Labour Inclusion of People with Disabilities
  • Mexican Business Council – Éntrale Alliance
  • Onest Logistics – Formal Education Program

MOLDOVA

  • Floare de Cires – Hope has an address!

MONTENEGRO

  • Ministry of Education –  Transition Plans for the SEN Students

NEPAL

  • Blind Youth Association Nepal – Employment Promotion for Young Persons with Visual Impairment

NETHERLANDS

  • Enablement B.V. RehApp
  • Ingka IKEA in Abylimpics project

NIGERIA

  • Special Needs Initiative For Growth – Technical/Vocational Education/Training For Special Needs Young Adults in Low-Middle Income Countries

NORWAY

  • Signlab – Signlab

PAKISTAN

  • DeafTawk – DeafTawk
  • Network of Organizations Working with People with Disabilities Pakistan (NOWPDP) – Yaqeeen

PERU

  • Fundación para el Desarrollo Solidario LABORA PCD – Promoting the Labor Inclusion of People with Disabilities

PHILIPPINES

  • Project Inclusion Network – ENABLE Opportunities
  • Virtualahan Inc. – Virtualahan

REPUBLIC OF CONGO

  • Kadiwaku Family Foundation – Inclusive Entrepreneurship for Persons with Disabilities

RUSSIA

  • BGO group, Begeton — begeton.com
  • Globe Media, LLC – globe4all.net
  • NGO Invatur – Training Production Laboratory ARTel

SAUDI ARABIA

  • The Savola Group – Best Practices in Employing Persons with Disabilities

SINGAPORE

  • SG Enable – Sheltered Workshop to Work

SOUTH AFRICA

  • I Love Coffee – I Love Coffee
  • Shonaquip Social Enterprise – Ecosystem for Inclusive Employment
  • The Living Link – The Living Link

SOUTH KOREA

  • Korea Association of the Vocational Rehabilitation Facilities for the Disabled(KAVRD) – JOB PLUS

SPAIN

  • APSA – APSA Penitentary Program for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities
  • Spanish Confederation of Physically and Organically Disabled People (COCEMFE) – AccesibilidApp
  • Spanish Confederation of Physically and Organically Disabled People (COCEMFE) – Inclusive Businesses: A Strategy for Inclusive Business Transformation
  • ENVERA Group – ENVERA Point of Inclusion
  • Universo Santi Restaurant – Universo Santi Restaurant
  • A LA PAR Foundation – CAMPVS: Higher Education for Employment
  • Lantegi Batuak Foundation – Lan Eskola
  • ONCE Foundation – ONE-ON-ONE Public-Private Transition Program
  • SIFU Group – SIFU Group

SRI LANKA

  • Empfed – Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC) – Specialised Training & Disability Resource Centre

SWEDEN

  • Misa AB – The Misa Way

SWITZERLAND

  • Blindspot, Inklusion und Vielfaltsförderung Schweiz – Labor Inklusion

TANZANIA

  • Employable Africa – Employable Africa
  • Furaha Ya Wanawake Wajasiriamali Kwa Viziwi Tanzania (FUWAVITA) – Reduce the Challenges of Employment among Women with Disabilities

THAILAND

  • Lampang Eye Foundation – Promotion of Well-Being for People with Disabilities at Work

TURKEY

  • Dem Dernegi – bukalemun.co
  • Eker Dairy Product – Autism in Workforce
  • Ereğli Down Cafe Association – Eregli Down Cafe
  • ES Kariyer ES Career Disability Consultancy
  • Poilabs – Visually Impaired Navigation in Indoor Venues

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE)

  • MOCD – Mashagel

UNITED KINGDOM

  • ENABLE Scotland – ENABLE Me
  • Glaxo Smith Kline – Workplace Adjustments (Accommodations) Service
  • Microlink PC (UK) Ltd – MiCase Workplace Adjustments Case Management
    Enablement B.V. – The Leprosy Mission Myanmar: Disability Project
    Scottish Government – A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People: Employment Action Plan

UNITES STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

  • Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc. – Pre-Vocational Training
  • Griffin-Hammis Associates – Customized Employment in the United States: Creating change  for people with disabilities
  • Association of People Supporting Employment First – Just in Time Virtual Employment Supports
  • BeeLine Reader – BeeLine Reader
  • Champlain Community Services – Way2Work: A Career Continuum
  • Houston Community College – Inclusive Employment Practices In Business
  • Keystone Human Services/ Keystone Autism Services (KAS) – KAS Adult Community Autism Project
  • Microsoft – Seeing AI
  • NYC Mayors Office for People with Disabilities – NYC ATWORK
  • Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) – Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT)
  • SITEL GROUP – SITEL GROUP
  • The Trust for the Americas – POETA DigiSpark
  • University of Vermont- Transition and Post-Secondary Education Initiative
  • US DOL/ODEP – State Exchange on Employment & Disability (SEED)
  • World Vision – Inclusive Livelihood for Refugees

VIETNAM

  • ON-NET and ICEVI – Sao Mai Vocational & Assistive Technology Center for the Blind

 

/by
,

The Zero Project is looking for a project manager!

We are looking for a Project Manager who is available full time and willing to join a highly motivated team with worldwide outreach. Ideally someone who is ready to accept the challenges of a dynamic, fast-developing project. Our office is located in the center of Vienna, in the beautiful building of the old stock exchange.

Find a detailed job advertisement here.

/by

Zero Project receives 475 nominations from 93 countries!

After carefully reviewing the nominations in the last few weeks the final figures have now been counted! Once again, we have broken the record and received 475 practices, overhauling the record of 469 nominations from last year on the topic of Inclusive Education.

A huge thank you to everyone who has made a nomination. We are absolutely overwhelmed with the extraordinary range and quality of the projects and are thankful for the efforts of everyone who has nominated! A huge thanks also to those who are taking the time to help us review all the projects.

For the full details of what we received, read our nomination press release.

/by
,

The Zero Project/IAAP/G3ict Webinar series on “Highlighting 2020 Educational Innovative Initiatives”

The Zero Project, and International Association of Accessibility Professionals: IAAP, a division of G3ict – The Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs, have come together to offer a series of free innovating webinars.
Through sharing best practices that are not only global, scalable and either free or at low-cost, we are hopeful these solutions can be used to speed up the process of implementing the United Nation Convention of the Rights of People with Disabilities.
Each of these webinars will highlight best practices and solutions from the 2020 Zero Project Awards on Education and ICT – the first series will introduce you to Benetech, Fundacion Once and Scify.
Following the webinar series,  a publication, highlighting information about the innovation, resources, and insights from the webinar will be made available on the IAAP Educational Training Database

Benetech a US non-profit organization has made the start on June 24th, 2020 and presented their awarded practise Bookshare.

Bookshare is a global accessible virtual library for people with print disabilities. Available nationwide in the United States and in 87 other countries, Bookshare provides books and printed materials in five accessible formats, such as electronic Braille and DAISY synchronized text with audio, at a lower cost than traditional methods.

In case you missed the webinar, you can watch the recording here: https://youtu.be/GgP225XsV_M
We also invite you to join the discussion in our WhatsApp community
Stay tuned – more info coming soon!
.
/by
,

WHY NOMINATING INNOVATIVE POLICIES IS SO IMPORTANT

The Innovative Practices rightly get a lot of attention for their amazing work around the world to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. They also normally make up more than three-quarters of our awardees and show the incredible change that NGOs and businesses can create.

But what about the Innovative Policies? Why should policies be nominated and why are they so important?

Innovative Policies show how change can happen at a government level. They lead the way in showing what is possible locally, nationally or internationally. By sharing the best examples of policy changes in governments around the world that support people with disabilities it can inspire others to follow suit. It can also provide pressure to other governments to implement necessary and lasting change.

Each Zero Project Conference brings together decision-makers from governments and international organisations around the world, such as local government representatives, ministries, and elected officials such as members of the European Parliament. By bringing together some of the best voices on a national stage, other countries simply have to take note.

This is why it is so important for us to be able to share the greatest laws, regulations, grants, subsidies etc. that break down barriers for persons with disabilities.

We are looking for policies that make employment more inclusive for persons with disabilities.  This could be on international/supranational level, on a country level or also regional level, and normally only initiated by a public sector body – for example, a national or regional government, ministry, public sector agency.

We are also interested in inclusive employment strategies targeted at the public sector as an employer but also from trade unions working on inclusive employment, as their work often intersects with, upholds, or seeks to improve existing policy and legislative frameworks.

So help us to find the best policies that are creating lasting change. Tell us about them, or get in contact with your local politicians and decision-makers and encourage them to nominate their work for the recognition it deserves!

For more information, please go to our Zero Project Nomination Website

 

/by
,

Deadline Extended until 5th July 2020!

After a record-breaking week of nominations, we simply cannot close the call in just 2 days!
We are trying to answer your questions as best as we can and have therefore decided to extend the deadline until midnight on Sunday 5th July! 
Don’t forget, we have loads of information that can help you, to access it please visit: https://call.zeroproject.org/

 

If all else fails, please contact us directly at office@zeroproject.org.

 

So finish the incredible work you have started – Good luck!

 

#ZeroCall21 #ZeroProject #ZeroProjectLatam

/by
,

The 2020 Good Design Awards – Deadline extended until May29th, 2020!

The Good Design Awards are one of the oldest and most prestigious international design awards in the world, promoting excellence in design and innovation across 11 Design Disciplines. The entry deadline is Friday 29th May 2020, however, if you do wish to enter and need some additional time, entries will be allowed until Monday 1st June at 9 am.

Winners will receive the Good Design Tick Trophy, Trademarks and be featured in the annual Good Design Awards Yearbook and online on the Good Design Index, the home for best in class design and innovation.

Businesses likely to have been impacted by the current crisis will be recognized, additionally,  to make entering easier during this difficult time a number of changes to the process for 2020 have been made:

  • A 25% discount on all entry fees for this year,
  • Provision of a limited number of free entries to those no longer able to afford the entry fee.
  • The 2020 judging will be conducted online, and samples will not be required for evaluation.

 

QUICK LINKS:

 

If you have any questions you can contact the Good Design Team on awards@good-design.org.

 

 

/by
,

Join Access Israel’s Webinar on “Global Sharing of Accessibility and Inclusion during COVID-19 crisis”

The Zero Project has joined forces with Access Israel on  “Global Sharing of Accessibility and Inclusion during COVID-19 crisis” – a series of international webinars.

Don’t miss the first Zoom webinar event on Thursday, May 7th 2020 at 15:30 GMT which will include best practices from the USA, Austria, Israel and Spain.

Registration is free  – the number of participants is limited so we highly recommend you sign in promptly so save your spot in the webinar!

REGISTER NOW

For any ideas, sharing, questions feel free to contact: site@aisrael.org and otherwise feel free to spread the word and invite interested organisations, commisioners and thought leaders!

See you there!

/by

Zero Project Factsheets on Inclusive Education and ICT are now available in Spanish!

As you may remember, at the end of 2019 we partnered with the organization Fundación Descúbreme from Chile – an exciting step to extend the mission of the Zero Project for a world without barriers to the Latin American and the Spanish-speaking communities.

We are now pleased to present you with the first fruits of our partnership with Fundación Descúbreme:

All 75 Innovative Practices and 11 Innovative Policies on the topic of Inclusive Education and ICT are now available in Spanish!

To find out more dive in and follow these links:

Prácticas Innovaddoras 2020 Sobre Educacion Inclusiva

Políticas Innovaddoras 2020 Sobre Educacion Y TIC

Enjoy!

/by
Four children watching a story book video with sign language.
,

COVID-19: Free ASL Literacy Resource platform

Gallaudet University won a Zero Project Award in 2018 for their VL2 Storybook Creator app and are also one of our Zero Project Impact Transfer alumni. This app is just one of the activities now being offered on their free American Sign Language (ASL) Literacy Resources platform, alongside videos, ideas and other resources to support deaf children and their families during the current school closures due to COVID-19. The storybook apps are currently being made available for free on a rolling basis, and sign-up to the platform is free. You can find out more at: motionlightlab.podia.com/asl-literacy-activities

/by