Persons with Disabilities

Innova Società Cooperativa – Milazzo Accessibility Experience (MAX) – Making Heritage and Attractions Inclusive for all

Screenshot of the website - Milazzo Accessibility Experience (MAX) – Heritage and Attractions Inclusive for All - pilot

Innova Società Cooperativa – Milazzo Accessibility Experience (MAX) – Making Heritage and Attractions Inclusive for all

Challenge: Milazzo: How can tourist attractions be made accessible for all?

Target Group: People with disabilities

The “Milazzo Accessibility Experience (MAX) – Heritage and Attractions Inclusive for All” pilot, developed within the European CommuniCity initiative, aims to make the Castle of Milazzo fully accessible, both physically and digitally. Promoted by the Municipality of Milazzo and implemented by Innova, the pilot focused on enhancing cultural inclusion for marginalised groups, particularly individuals with motor or sensory disabilities.

The project’s core objective was to develop an interactive virtual tour of the Castle using ArViTech technology, enriched with multimedia content and designed to be accessible remotely via smartphones, PCs, and immersive headsets. Co-creation activities played a key role, involving local communities and stakeholders in on-site sessions to gather stories, historical knowledge, and feedback. On average, 10 people participated in each of the four co-creation sessions at Castello di Milazzo, 6 of whom were representative of the marginalised group in question. These inputs were essential in shaping the content and ensuring cultural relevance and accessibility.

The resulting virtual tour reflects community perspectives and provides a meaningful, inclusive experience for diverse users, including residents, students, and tourists. The pilot reached full technological maturity (TRL 9) and is now live online.

Next steps include the integration of multilingual interactive avatars to guide users through the heritage site, further enhancing accessibility and engagement. The pilot serves as a replicable model for inclusive digital cultural experiences in other European cities.

Verlab Research Institute for biomedical engineering of medical devices and artificial intelligence – DEPI – Digital Empowerment for Public Institution Accessibility

Verlab Research Institute for biomedical engineering of medical devices and artificial intelligence – DEPI – Digital Empowerment for Public Institution Accessibility

Challenge: Sarajevo: How to improve the availability of assistive technologies for people with disabilities?

Target Group: People with Disabilities

The pilot project “DEPI – Digital Empowerment for Public Institution Accessibility” focused on creating a digital accessibility map for public institutions in Sarajevo, aiming to improve inclusivity for people with disabilities. The project developed a mobile application, InMap, which provides key accessibility information for various institutions, focusing initially on municipalities, social services, healthcare, and educational institutions.

Co-creation activities included collaboration with disability associations, stakeholders, and potential end-users. Feedback was gathered through meetings, webinars, and a roundtable event, ensuring the app was user-centered and aligned with the needs of marginalized communities. The activities have reached out to approximately 100 people, of whom around 40 were representative of people with disabilities. Notable co-creation sessions included testing the app and refining its features based on user feedback. Key results include the successful development of the app prototype and a database of accessibility information. Challenges such as data collection difficulties due to outdated or uncentralized information were addressed through direct fieldwork.

The next steps involve finalizing the app’s improvements, expanding the database, and launching the solution for wider use, with plans to apply for further funding to increase coverage. This initiative was carried out as part of the CommuniCIty project, in collaboration with the City of Sarajevo, with the aim of enhancing digital skills and empowering the local community.

Association of Entrepreneurs “Pivot” – PivotConnect – An Inclusive Web App Connecting Entrepreneurs and a Diverse Workforce

Association of Entrepreneurs “Pivot” – PivotConnect – An Inclusive Web App Connecting Entrepreneurs and a Diverse Workforce

Challenge: Sarajevo: How to improve the availability of assistive technologies for people with disabilities?

Target Group: People with Disabilities

PivotConnect is an inclusive web application developed in Sarajevo by the Pivot Association of Entrepreneurs as part of the CommuniCity pilot to connect entrepreneurs and individuals from marginalized communities with job and training opportunities. The primary objective is to create a user-friendly digital platform that promotes accessibility, especially for blind and visually impaired users, and persons with intellectual difficulties.

The pilot followed a strong co-creation approach, engaging over 20 individuals—including entrepreneurs and persons with disabilities—through interviews, workshops, and beta testing. Civil society organizations played a key role in facilitating access, building trust, and ensuring that user feedback was central to the design process.

Based on user input, the platform’s features were refined to improve accessibility, including simplified navigation, plain language content, and accessible registration forms. Beta testing confirmed the importance of intuitive design and led to further improvements, such as clearer confirmation messages and interface adjustments.

Next steps include expanding platform features to support B2B communication, company profiles, and a dedicated section to promote entrepreneurship for all. Ongoing collaboration with pilot hosts and civil society partners is planned to ensure sustainability and continued development.

Accessify – WeMapp

Accessify – WeMapp

Challenge: Sarajevo: How to improve the availability of assistive technologies for people with disabilities?

Target Group: People with Disabilities

Accessify is a one-stop shop accessibility platform that transforms the way people with disabilities navigate cities, public spaces, events, and venues. Through AI and community-powered features, Accessify maps obstacles, mobility infrastructure, and accessibility levels, enabling safe, seamless, and personalized movement through urban environments. The CommuniCity pilot aimed to validate the platform in real-world conditions across the urban contexts of Sarajevo.

The pilot’s main objectives were to co-design key features with end users, test usability in live environments, and assess integration potential with event and venue operations. 19 individuals participated in co-creation sessions, including 10 representatives from marginalised groups and 9 event managers. The pilot included semi-structured user interviews, live mapping trials, and event accessibility assessments. The product reached TRL 6, and the pilot validated both the social impact and market demand of the solution, setting the groundwork for future partnerships and deployments.

General IT and Software Solutions – Development of a transcription software for public institutions

General IT and Software Solutions – Development of a transcription software for public institutions

Challenge: Sarajevo: How to improve the availability of assistive technologies for people with disabilities?

Target Group: People with Disabilities

The pilot aimed to develop and test an AI-powered transcription tool tailored for public institutions, media organizations, and cultural institutions, with a focus on accessibility and multilingual support. The objective was to improve efficiency in transcribing audio content while ensuring the tool could be used by diverse user groups, including persons with disabilities.

Co-creation was central to the pilot, involving six sessions with over 35 participants, including public sector staff, journalists, museum and theatre professionals, and individuals from marginalised communities. Methods included hands-on workshops, remote usability testing, and inclusive design sessions. Feedback from these sessions directly shaped the tool’s interface, accessibility features, and language options.

The pilot demonstrated that the solution is technically mature (TRL 9) and ready for broader use. It is now being used by the pilot host as well as several other institutions in the region. Key results include improved user satisfaction, greater inclusion, and validated real-world functionality.

Next steps involve further development of accessibility features, expansion to new sectors, and joint funding applications with the pilot host to support scaling and sustainability. The pilot highlighted strong potential for replication in other cities and institutions facing similar needs.

OD “Digital Solutions” vl. Hadziomerovic Kenan – AccessAbility: A Comprehensive Platform for Independent Living

Challenge: Sarajevo: How to improve the availability of assistive technologies for people with disabilities?

Target Group: People with Disabilities

The pilot aimed to test and validate a solution designed to address specific community needs within the CommuniCity framework. Key objectives included ensuring effective implementation, engaging pilot hosts in co-creation activities, and gathering practical feedback to refine the solution. Co-creation involved a series of structured meetings and feedback sessions with pilot hosts, held both online and in person, to align the solution closely with user requirements. These sessions enabled the identification of strengths and areas for improvement, fostering a user-centered development process.

One2One.Run B.V. – Neardoor club

One2One.Run B.V. – Neardoor club

Challenge: The Hague: How can Digital Day Programs enhance well-being?

Target Group: People with Disabilities; Isolated Individuals

This pilot explored the use of a voice-based AI assistant, Ally, to improve access to services and activities for people with physical or cognitive limitations in The Hague. The objective was to reduce barriers to engagement by offering a simple, intuitive voice interface that helps users discover relevant opportunities while also enabling volunteers and organizations to respond to user needs.

Co-creation was conducted in partnership with Voorall and 14 members of the target group. Sessions focused on testing real-life use cases, where participants completed tasks using Ally in environments that simulated daily life. The method emphasized feedback through practical interaction rather than abstract discussion.

Key findings include the difficulty users face in discovering and understanding available events, and the importance of clear, human-like guidance. Testing confirmed that voice interaction can significantly reduce digital barriers, but also revealed the need for further refinement in onboarding and communication clarity.

Next steps involve expanding the testing group, refining the assistant’s dialogue flow, and strengthening the volunteer-response mechanism. The solution is in its final development phase and is being prepared for broader rollout, with a continued focus on accessibility, empathy, and co-creation with the community.

Grid Collective – Porto Navigator: Your Go-To Map for an Inclusive City

Grid Collective – Porto Navigator: Your Go-To Map for an Inclusive City

Challenge: Porto: How can the accessibility and fluidity of routes be improved for residents with reduced mobility?

Target Groups: People with disabilities, Families

The Porto Navigator pilot aimed to explore community-powered accessibility mapping using AI-based video analysis of sidewalk conditions. Early co-creation activities, including guided tours, expert consultations, and a public mapathon, surfaced key limitations. Collecting consistent, high-quality video data, especially from wheelchair users, proved challenging, and participation levels were insufficient for reliable AI processing.

In response, the pilot pivoted to Atlas, an open-source, EU-based no-code mapping tool enabling manual, structured reporting via an interactive map. Participants contributed location-tagged data on obstacles, surface conditions, and curb ramps, supported by photos. The approach ensures immediate data usability while allowing gradual integration of AI features, such as pre-filling based on image input.

Co-creation was facilitated through local partners Porto Digital and the Occupational Therapy section at IPP, ensuring inclusive recruitment and context-sensitive engagement. Field activities took place in accessible environments, with members of the target group involved, including a wheelchair user, an individual with Parkinson’s disease, a participant with cognitive impairment, accessibility advocates, and municipal representatives. Approximately 20 people participated in co-creation activities, from which 7 were individuals from the marginalised group in question.

The resulting accessibility map combines community input with municipal data layers, forming a validated base for future scaling. Collaboration with Project Sidewalk was initiated to enable asynchronous, remote contributions using Google Street View, extending participation and scalability.

Axtron Systems Lda. – An intelligent system to optimise transportation services for individuals with mobility limitations

Axtron Systems Lda. – An intelligent system to optimise transportation services for individuals with mobility limitations

Challenge: Porto: How to improve the transportation services for individuals with mobility limitations?

Target Group: People with Disabilities

This pilot has developed a platform to optimise transport management for users of the Porto Association for Cerebral Palsy (APPC), who require special daily transport services. The goal is to reduce delays, costs, failures, and ensure a faster, more efficient, and reliable service.

The platform comprises a web application for scheduling transport needs and a mobile application to guide drivers along optimal transport routes. It also includes an SMS functionality to inform users of transport arrival times.

The platform was developed through co-creation sessions with staff and families to gather feedback, along with route simulations and functionality tests to validate and improve the system. Of the 16 people involved in co-creation activities, 6 were individuals with mobility limitations.

The allocation algorithm is still being improved to optimise the allocation of resources.

Aiedu Oy – AI-enhanced virtual reality (VR) therapy for children

Aiedu Oy – AI-enhanced virtual reality (VR) therapy for children

Challenge: Porto: How can AI support the therapeutic needs of children?

Target Group: Children and youth, People with Disabilities

The VR for Children Therapy pilot developed an interactive virtual reality game aimed at promoting healthy eating habits among children. Built using Unity and deployed on Meta Quest devices, the game simulates a dining room environment where children interact with food items using utensils, facilitating experiential learning.

Co-creation activities with APPC (Porto Association for Cerebral Paralysis) involved workshops with children, parents, and therapists to refine gameplay mechanics and enhance accessibility. 10 people were involved, with 2 being considered representative of the target group. Evaluation showed increased engagement and improved understanding of utensil use alongside healthy food literacy. Feedback highlighted the need for varied hand-tracking options and a broader selection of food items, which are currently being integrated.

Next steps focus on iterative design improvements and further testing to prepare the solution for wider deployment.