The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is annually observed on the 3rd of December. Proclaimed in 1992, it aims to promote the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities and to promote action for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all aspects of society and development.

LASIGE advocates a scientific culture of excellence connected to society and aligned with national and international societal challenges. Accessibility and Ageing (AA) is one of LASIGE’s main research lines and it centres the area of accessible computing, with the assessment, design, and development of technologies for people with different abilities. AA researchers are actively involved not only in the development of accessible technology and but also in the development of digital accessibility regulation of public bodies.

Currently, LASIGE has 5 active (and mainly European funded) projects/actions assigned to the digital accessibility theme: WAI-Tools, IDEA-FAST, SONAAR, INPLAY, LEAD-ME COST Action. Additionally, two new projects, WAI-CooP and WeHealth, will be starting next year.

More information on some of LASIGE’s AA team latest work can be found on the following links:

Successful organization at ASSETS2020

João Guerreiro publishes at Behaviour and Information Technology

Carlos Duarte becomes Co-Chair of the W3C ACT Rules Community Group

Computational Thinking learning for young visually impaired children by LASIGE

Ana Pires talks about her work at “O que faço aqui?”

Also, in order of The International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the SONAAR project offers a few tips on how each one of us can promote inclusion and accessibility in its own social media. You can access them here.

“When we secure the rights of people with disabilities, we move closer to achieving the central promise of the 2030 Agenda: to leave no one behind.” António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations.