Europe, Global, Transportation, July 18 2021 GENEVA:  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the launch of a global Mobility Aids Action Group to examine and improve the transport journey of mobility aids, including wheelchairs, with the objective of improving the handling of this vital equipment for travelers with disabilities. The Action Group will be the […]

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Assistive Technology, Europe, July 12 2021 CROATIA: The centre, the first of its kind in Croatia, is part of the “Network for all” project. Mulić said that digital literacy would ensure new opportunities for blind and visually impaired persons that previous generations did not have. “We put great emphasis on diversity as well as on creating new opportunities […]

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Ireland: Calls for Publication of Reports on Disability Sector

Posted on July 8th, 2021 by Best Brothers Group

Europe, July 8 2021 An Oireachtas committee has called for the publication of two reports to inform the Government how the disability sector needs to be funded in advance of the budget. The Indecon Report, which examined the cost of having a disability in Ireland and the implications for public policy, was commissioned by the […]

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European Disability Forum Supports the New European Bauhas Initiative

Posted on June 23rd, 2021 by Best Brothers Group

As the initiative is related to inclusive architecture and urban planning, it is also connected with accessibility following a Universal Design or Design for All approach.  It is an opportunity to highlight accessibility as part of the wider sustainability debate and mainstream it in architecture and design. In this way, it also relates to Standards, […]

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Europe, Transportation, June 16 2021 UK: Technology provider Transreport has launched a new app aimed at making it easier and quicker for disabled passengers to request assistance across the UK rail network. The Passenger Assistance app has been built in collaboration with The Rail Delivery Group, disabled passengers and accessibility experts, and enables users to “quickly […]

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Europe, Transportation, May 27 2021 UK: Coventry University has collaborated with national disability charity Motability to recruit and sponsor a number of doctoral candidates to undertake research into accessible transport at the university’s National Transport Design Centre (NTDC). The collaboration combines Coventry University’s strong tradition of design transport teaching and Motability’s objective to support and develop […]

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Built Environment, Europe, May 25 2021 FINLAND: The Finnish Prime Minister’s Office has commissioned a study on the status and needs of accessibility legislation in Finland. Finland ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2016.The agreement mandates non-discrimination and defines accessibility from a human rights perspective as a prerequisite for independent […]

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Smart Shoes with Embedded Sensors Created Obstacles in the Path

Posted on May 18th, 2021 by Best Brothers Group

Assistive Technology, Europe, May 18 2021 Austria: Shoes with sensors embedded in them have been created to alert blind and visually impaired people to obstacles in their path. Developed by Austria’s Tec-Innovation company in collaboration with the Graz University of Technology, the intelligent shoes can increase the safety of visually impaired and blind people in their […]

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Portugal to Approve Strategy to Boost Inclusion

Posted on April 29th, 2021 by Best Brothers Group

Built Environment, Europe, News, April 29 2021 PORTUGAL: At the opening session of the second day of the high-level videoconference on the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030, under the Portuguese presidency of the Council of the European Union, Costa considered the adoption of this instrument as “a milestone in the construction […]

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Report Makes Policy Suggestions for Persons with Disabilities in UK

Posted on April 26th, 2021 by Best Brothers Group

Entitled ‘Now is the Time’, the report makes transformative policy suggestions across employment, education, housing, transport, and access to goods and services. There is a strong push towards the need for raising accessible housing standards and drumming up awareness of the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) and home adaptations, as well as getting more disabled people […]

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