Michael's Blog

Disability Innovation Insights

Michael in discussion with a small group of people at an event in Singapore; he is listening to them, a notebook in his hands.
Michael Fembek, CEO of the Zero Project and Member of the Board of the Essl Foundation.
[Photo credits: SG Enable]

“Michael's Blog” provides you with insights into disability innovation research and global ecosystems to advance the implementation of the CRPD. 

Edited by Michael Fembek, CEO of the Zero Project, these articles build on his background in journalism and decades of experience in researching good practices and policies for disability inclusion.

 

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From useless to useful: how to cluster

Category
News
Author
Michael Fembek
Date
15.05.2026
Minimalist cover graphic for “Disability Innovation Insights” by Michael Fembek. Large black text appears on a light gray background. Along the bottom, stylized high-contrast silhouettes of people seated with raised hands suggest participation, discussion, or inclusion in a conference or classroom setting.

Why can alphabetical clustering be almost meaningless? What makes regional classifications surprisingly complicated? And how do research teams navigate overlapping categories, evolving disability definitions, and cross-cutting innovations?

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The importance of being clustered

Category
News
Author
Michael Fembek
Date
21.03.2026
Stylized black-and-white illustration of a small group of people seated in a circle, engaged in discussion, with one woman on the right gesturing as she speaks while others listen; additional figures appear in the background.

Understanding and scaling innovation depends on clusters: identifying commonalities, differences, and standout features among diverse models. Getting clusters right is essential for effective analysis, collaboration, and impact.

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Decentralized progress: How people are building accessibility themselves

Category
Guest Articles
Author
Michael Fembek
Date
09.09.2025
A stylised photo in black, white, and grey. It shows a crowd in a large corridor at the UN during the Zero Project Conference.

The Zero Project Call for Nominations shows how many people around the globe are striving to make their world more accessible. The understanding of how to fully use their potential is only in its beginnings.

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