Workbook final

October 2015

Introduction

Zero Project Research on Innovative Practices and Innovative Policies

The Zero Project, an initiative of the Vienna, Austria-based Essl Foundation, focuses on the rights of

persons with disabilities around the world. It provides a platform upon which the most innovative and

effective solutions to problems faced by persons with disabilities face are shared. Its sole objective is to

help create a world without barriers.

The Zero Project takes a solutions-based approach to its work. Together with the continuously growing

network of over 3,000 disability experts in over 150 countries, it seeks to identify the most innovative

and effective practices and policies that improve the lives of persons with disabilities. And the Zero

Project tells the world about those practices and policies.

Each year the Zero Project focuses its research on a particular theme taken from the UN Convention on

the Rights of People with Disabilities (UN CRPD). It publishes a report based on this theme and organizes

a conference around its results. Held at the UN in Vienna, this event typically brings together up to 500

delegates from over 50 countries.

The annual Zero Project Report presents the practices and policies that have been selected as the most

innovative in their approach to that year’s theme. It also evaluates just how the UN CRPD is being

implemented around the world. To do this the project created its own social indicators.

To date, the Zero Project has researched employment (2012/13), accessibility (2013/14), and, most

recently, independent living and political participation (2014/15). This year (2015/16), the theme is

education and information/communication technology (ICT).

2015/16: Zero Project research on education and information/communication technology (ICT)

The Zero Project 2016 started its selection process of innovative practices and policies in the field of

inclusive education and ICT in June 2015. The process is based on three criteria: innovation, impact and

scalability. All nominators and other contributors were, therefore, asked to consider each of the

following:

Innovation of the approaches in their areas of work;

Measurable impact in education or ICT; and

The clarity with which strategies were explained and whether they could be scaled up, copied or

replicated elsewhere