1. Innovative Practices of the Zero Project
European Foundation Forum
for Inclusion Conference, Brussels
Panel: Building inclusive communities − Accessibility as a tool for inclusion and targeting disadvantaged groups
by Michael Fembek
Director of the Zero Project
June 22nd, 2016

2. What is the Zero Project?
Project of Civil Society, initiated by the Essl Foundation (Austria), run in partnership with the World Future Council (Germany, Switzerland) and the European Foundation Centre (Belgium), started in 2011
Mission is: “For a World without Barriers”, supporting the implementation of the UN CRPD
1. Research and selection of most outstanding Best-Practice examples to improve the situation of persons with disabilities: Innovative Practices and Innovative Policies
2. Research Social Indicators that measure the implementation of the UN CRPD worldwide
Full research is based on the Zero Project Network of experts: more than 3000 have contributed since 2011; more than have in 2015/16
Communication: Zero Project Report, Website and Conference, Social Media, “Innovative Practices and Policies 2017 on Employment”
Annual topic: 2013: Employment; 2014: Accessibility; 2015: Independent Living, Political Participation; 2016: Education and ICT, 2017 Employment
Why is the Zero Project doing exactly this? Why exactly are we researching Innovative Practices and Innovative Policies? Because we found out that Best Practice are generally regarded as an important and efficient tool to support the implementation of the UN CRPD. But there was no international organization that put the worldwide research of Best Practice examples in the very centre of its activities, trying to engage as many people and their knowledge in the nomination and selection process, and thus working also towards a democratic decision making process about what Best Practices actually are. So we focus on Innovative Practices and Innovative Policies, and we are doing also something else: We are using all means of communication to support the Innovative Practices and Innovative Policies that we have chosen. We have no other agenda, we have no vested interests, we have the legitimacy of the collected knowledge of more than 1000 experts annually, and many of them are without any doubt familiar to you, like DPI which we would like to point out here for their outstanding support. But, to make that also very clear; we have no other legitimacy: we do not represent persons with disabilities, we are not chosen by electorates.

3. Key factors of success
Network throughout all different stakeholders: International organizations, international umbrella organizations, governments and administrations on all levels, NGOs and disabled peoples organizations, activists and grassroots organizations, international companies, social entrepreneurs, academics, foundations
“Crowd intelligence” (“Peer-Review-System”)
Why is the Zero Project doing exactly this? Why exactly are we researching Innovative Practices and Innovative Policies? Because we found out that Best Practice are generally regarded as an important and efficient tool to support the implementation of the UN CRPD. But there was no international organization that put the worldwide research of Best Practice examples in the very centre of its activities, trying to engage as many people and their knowledge in the nomination and selection process, and thus working also towards a democratic decision making process about what Best Practices actually are. So we focus on Innovative Practices and Innovative Policies, and we are doing also something else: We are using all means of communication to support the Innovative Practices and Innovative Policies that we have chosen. We have no other agenda, we have no vested interests, we have the legitimacy of the collected knowledge of more than 1000 experts annually, and many of them are without any doubt familiar to you, like DPI which we would like to point out here for their outstanding support. But, to make that also very clear; we have no other legitimacy: we do not represent persons with disabilities, we are not chosen by electorates.

4. Zero Project Indicator No 14 – official data on state employment available

5. an inclusive university
Germany: Moving step-by-step towards
an inclusive university
Starting in 1977 with a counselling service for students with disabilities and chronic diseases, the Technical University of Dortmund has continued to provide various services through its “DoBuS – disability and study” unit, as well as in other units of the university. One example is the library’s service to provide books for the blind and visually impaired.
A strategic approach with priorities can make the most of limited resources. Colombia’s Plan Vive Digital is a good example as it creates Internet access for the disadvantaged rural populations and implements specific measures to overcome the digital exclusion of people with disabilities.

6. ‘automatically’ Israel: Accessible websites created
Founded in 2012 and launched in 2014, User1st is an Israeli-based ICT organization that also operates in the United States and that develops ICT-tools that make websites fully accessible. The tools are cloud-based (no extra software needed) and automatically detect and correct all kinds of errors on web-pages, creating full accessibility.
A strategic approach with priorities can make the most of limited resources. Colombia’s Plan Vive Digital is a good example as it creates Internet access for the disadvantaged rural populations and implements specific measures to overcome the digital exclusion of people with disabilities.

7. Ombudsmen Sweden: Sweden’s Personal
Guardianship, hospitalization, institutionalization, powerlessness, isolation, drug addiction, homelessness, suicide, and violence are among the negative situations and conditions that the Swedish system of Personal Ombudsman helps to prevent – proving to be a true ‘changemaker’ in the lives of many persons with disabilities.
A strategic approach with priorities can make the most of limited resources. Colombia’s Plan Vive Digital is a good example as it creates Internet access for the disadvantaged rural populations and implements specific measures to overcome the digital exclusion of people with disabilities.

8. for supported decision-making
Canada: Microboards - small non-profits
for supported decision-making
A Microboard is a small group of family and friends who join a person with disabilities to create a non-profit organization so as to support the person to create the life he or she envisions. The network enhances supports that may previously have been solely the responsibility of parents or other relatives.
A strategic approach with priorities can make the most of limited resources. Colombia’s Plan Vive Digital is a good example as it creates Internet access for the disadvantaged rural populations and implements specific measures to overcome the digital exclusion of people with disabilities.

9. Nominate Innovative Practices and Innovative Policies until July 1!