Accessibilitech Hackathon | powered by Microsoft

Accessibilitech is an EU-funded initiative dedicated to mapping accessible technologies and giving them more visibility to both end-users and businesses across Europe.

DIGITALEUROPE and Fundación ONCE have partnered up with Microsoft to create the Accessibilitech Hackathon – a highly interactive event which, in the scope of the Accessibilitech project, aims to raise awareness of inclusive technologies and promote accessible tech solutions to citizens and organisations across Europe. Moreover, its goal is to activate the ICT industry and business communities in the efforts to develop more accessible tech products and services in the EU and beyond.

During the event, the participants will have the chance to put their curiosity, creativity and professional skills to good use, solving forward-looking challenges that have the potential to make technology in the areas of telework, telecare and e-learning more accessible and inclusive.

Who can participate in the hackathon?

The event is dedicated to everyone interested in learning more about accessibility and contributing to shaping a more inclusive society by developing accessible technology solutions. In particular, we welcome:

• Professionals: programmers, UX/UI designers, business developers, marketing experts, project managers or similar,
• Students with a background in IT, new media, marketing, business development, project management or similar, interested in the topic of accessible technological solutions,
• Technology end-users with disabilities or participants with knowledge of special needs and barrier-facing by people with disability.

Hackathon Training

Would you like to participate in the Hackathon, but you might lack some knowledge in the area of accessibility? No worries – the Hackathon is the perfect opportunity to learn more and deepen your knowledge of this topic. With the support of various expert organisations, we will get you up to speed with training on accessibility and inclusion in advance of the hackathon. Additionally, you will be able to learn from your peers throughout the event.

Application process

You can apply either as an individual or as a team by 15 June, indicating your expertise, relevant skills and motivation to join the event. Your application will be reviewed by the Accessibilitech Team, and you can expect the results by 17 June at the latest. Successful individual applicants will be matched with a minimum of 2 other candidates, creating a team that will solve the Hackathon challenge together. The successful teams will undertake the challenge together, however, should there a need emerge, the Hackathon organisers may add individual applicants to selected teams.

Agenda

Prizes

• 3 x EUR 3.000 per team for the winning solutions*
• subscriptions and licenses for selected Microsoft software
• an official participation certificate for everyone taking part in the Hackathon

*due to the administrative process, the financial award will be granted to the winning teams within 90 days following the Hackathon.

About Accessibilitech

The ultimate purpose of the Accessibilitech project is to promote the use of IT tools to improve and enhance e-inclusion and e-accessibility for people with disabilities and other related groups with similar needs. With the current (and increasing) prominence of the role that ICTs play in people’s lives, it is vitally important that everyone has full and equal access to these types of technologies, regardless of their diverse abilities and disabilities, not only in terms of facilitating access for passive consumption of digital content, but also regarding access to creation, enabling users with varying abilities and disabilities to become prosumers, or in other words, fully participating, active agents and co-creators in digital processes. The Accessibilitech project’s work currently focuses on three thematic areas: telework, telecare and e-learning.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme (2014-2020). The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Commission.