e-ISOTIS advances the involvement of disabled people and elderly in the (Information) Society

We consider disabled people and elderly as the best experts to advise on the policies, products and services that have an impact on them. In this context, we take actions to promote their involvement by:

- promoting their input as valuable partners in the policy dialogue and in the formulation of strategies in relation to the Information Society and its implications for disabled people and older people (e.g. making sure that there is a representation on all relevant Information Society initiatives);
- ensuring their input as experts on good technical solutions for them, at all levels and stages of the product and service development, whether for commercial products and services or for publicly-provided services (e.g. by establishing user panels, advisory groups and other mechanisms);
- supporting communication, launching networks and creating partnerships with other user groups and target groups.

It is interesting to note that e-ISOTIS does not participate only on projects that the main focus is elderly and disabled like in ASK-IT project (the largest currently european research project that deals on development of services for the mobility of impaired people) but also on projects that deal in general with electronic services like e-learning, e-government but also with culture, arts, education, leisure, socialisation and apply to the general public without making any differentiation. We believe that any service that is accessible and usable to disabled and elderly is equally applicable to all. For example, e-ISOTIS participates in one e-government project (Access e-Gov) and one e-learning (EURIDICE) that focus on electronic services to the general public. It has been proved that from the moment these services are user-friendly and practical to disabled and elderly then they are also of high value and convenience to any individual. Furthermore, through 9th of May project, e-ISOTIS aims to stimulate disabled young people to realise their identity as European citizens and the benefits gained by considering themselves as part of a european society and NOT as part of a national or a local community.

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