The Zero Project

UN DESA/DSPD Forum on "Disability and development: Disability inclusive and accessible

urban development„, Nairobi

by Michael Fembek, Director of the Zero Project

Thursday, October 29th, 2015

What is the Zero Project?

• Project of Civil Society, initiated by the Essl Foundation (Austria), run in partnership with the World Future Council (Germany, Switzerland) and the European Foundation Centre (Belgium), started in 2011

• Mission is: “For a World without Barriers”, supporting the implementation of the UN CRPD

• 1. Research and selection of most outstanding Best-Practice examples to improve the situation of persons with disabilities: Innovative Practices and Innovative Policies

• 2. Research Social Indicators that measure the implementation of the UN CRPD worldwide

• Full research is based on the Zero Project Network of experts: more than 2500 have contributed since 2011; more than 1.000 have in 2013/2014

• Communication: Zero Project Report, Website and Conference, Social Media, “Innovative Practice 2015”, “Innovative Policy 2015”

• Annual topic: 2013: Employment; 2014: Accessibility; 2015: Independent Living, Political Participation; 2016: Education and ICT

Key factors of success

• Network throughout all different stakeholders: International organizations, international umbrella organizations, governments and administrations on all levels, NGOs and disabled peoples organizations, activists and grassroots organizations, international companies, social entrepreneurs, academics, foundations

• “Crowd intelligence” (“Peer-Review-System”)

Zero Project Indicator No 13 – mandatory accomodations of the Workplace

Zero Project Indicator No 14 – official data on state employment available

Combining architecture, universal design and social work, RIOinclui offers accessible housing for children and youths with disabilities living in poor conditions in the city of Rio de Janeiro.A full network of local support is provided.

Brazil: At the nexus of architecture andsocial work in Rio

Berlin‘s administration has published comprehensive handbooks on barrier-free constrction, that have been developed together with civil society and are mandatory for all Berlin State construction projects.

Germany: Mandatory barrier free construction in Berlin

A Changing Places toilet provides euqipment, space and facilities (including hoist and adult-sized changing bench) for persons with disabilities who need assistance and cannot use standard accessible toilets. Changing aPlaces toilets should be provided in addition to standard accessible toilets.

United Kingdom: Accessible and spacioustoilets in public places

The City of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has set up an implementation framework for ist accessibility standards for the built environment that includes a comprehensive monitoring and enforcement system, from design to post construction.

Kuala Lumpur:Enforcing accessibility

Wheelmap.org is an online map which indicates whether or not a location is wheelchair accessible. It works like Wikipedia – many people help to collect and update information about the accessibility of places in the city.

Germany: Interactive city map for wheelchair accessibility