Inclusive by design: making mainstream solutions work for older adults and people with disabilities

Accessibility is still examined too late in the innovation cycle. Many mainstream solutions never reach older adults or people with disabilities because their real-life needs are poorly understood, and closed, proprietary ecosystems limit interoperability and long-term use.

We are a non-profit organisation working on the ground with older adults, people with disabilities, carers and professionals. We are developing a reusable method to adapt existing mainstream solutions, rather than building yet another proprietary technology. It rests on early needs assessment, user testing in real conditions, and open protocols and interoperability. We are also working on an open, transparent qualification framework that scores solutions on real-world utility, accessibility, acceptability, effect on autonomy, integration and viability. It is paired with a before/after measurement approach to document the actual added value of support, including cases where there is no gain.

For coordinators and research institutions, we can take on user requirements, co-design, validation and evaluation tasks. We can also reach end-users and companies open to transforming their offer, and we disseminate results through our networks. Our contribution complements technical and academic partners with implementation know-how and credible user evidence.