Saint Lazarus Centre – Real-World Living Lab
Founded in 1995 in Larnaca, Cyprus, Saint Lazarus Centre for Adults with Disabilities (Kentro AmeA “Agios Lazaros”) is a community-based non-profit supporting 67 adults with intellectual disabilities through Day Services, Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment, and Supported Living. PIC 937507232 | OID E10045250. Our real-world settings span LEARN – WORK – LIVE – PARTICIPATE.
OUR VISION
We are developing an Experts by Experience Real-World Living Lab within our everyday services, where adults with intellectual disabilities shape and evaluate services, technologies and environments. Our ambition is rights-based, high-quality support that is effective, equitable and economically sustainable across Europe.
FIVE INTERCONNECTED RESEARCH PRIORITIES
1. Meaningful Co-Design and Participation
We are developing opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities to act as testers, reviewers, co-designers and evaluators. Their preferences should demonstrably influence research decisions and adaptations, with roles respecting individual choice and communication needs. We aim to track whether participants' feedback changes solutions and whether adaptations improve understanding, meaningful choice and independent task performance in daily situations.
2. Cognitive Accessibility and Technology
We examine whether people genuinely understand and use information, services and technology. Our approach: REAL SERVICE → TEST → IDENTIFY BARRIERS → SIMPLEST ADEQUATE ADAPTATION → RETEST. Our proposed validation framework covers comprehension, recognition, task performance, preference and support required. Interests include Easy Language, accessible digital services, assistive technology and AI-supported communication.
3. Person-Controlled AI Personal Independence Companion
We are exploring an early-stage adaptive AI companion for routines, communication, comprehension and informed choices. It should strengthen autonomy and supported decision-making, never replace human relationships, judgement or necessary care. Research questions include personal control, privacy, safeguarding, human oversight and risks of dependency across different life settings.
4. Ageing and Continuity of Support
We seek to understand changing needs throughout adulthood and ageing, using longitudinal observation and personalised support to sustain autonomy, participation and quality of life across day services, work, supported living and community settings.
5. Economic Sustainability and Equitable Access
We seek to compare outcomes, support needs, service quality and total societal costs, including burdens on families. How can countries with different resources extend appropriate, rights-based support to more people? Efficiency must not compromise dignity, autonomy, safety, choice or necessary human support.
REAL-WORLD RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AREAS
CityHome 5: A proposed, not yet operational, smart-home demonstrator for five adults, combining building reuse, energy efficiency, accessibility and assistive technology. Existing Supported Living offers a real-world pilot setting.
Understandable City: An emerging direction testing cognitive accessibility of municipal information, mobility services, websites and AI-enabled public tools.
Inclusive Work Lab: Exploring accessible work instructions, AI-supported learning, workplace adaptations and potential paid accessibility-review roles, building on existing vocational services.
LifePath: An early-stage pilot documenting participation, changing support needs and outcomes without excessive administrative burden.
WHAT WE OFFER CONSORTIA
We offer participatory co-design; developing Experts by Experience activities; cognitive-accessibility testing; real-world assistive and AI technology pilots; implementation across our three service settings; observation of autonomy, participation and ageing-related needs; and collaboration on outcomes, support costs, safeguarding and ethical participation. Activities require appropriate consent and ethics arrangements. As a service provider, we collaborate with, rather than represent, disability-led organisations.
EUROPEAN COOPERATION
We hold Erasmus+ KA120 Adult Education accreditation (2024–2027), with European mobility and exchange experience, and have been an EPR Observer Member since October 2026.
We seek Horizon Europe beneficiary-partner roles in co-design, cognitive accessibility, implementation and validation, working with universities, AI developers, cities, health economists and disability organisations.
Priority topic: HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-STAYHLTH-01.
OUR DISTINCTIVE CONTRIBUTION
We connect lived experience, community services, accessible technology, ageing and economic evaluation. We ask: what works, for whom, with what support, and at what total societal cost? Our goal is rights-based, high-quality support reaching more adults across Europe.