Zero Project

From the Zero Project:
"Their Mission Statement:

 

The Zero Project, an initiative of the Essl Foundation, focuses on the rights of persons with disabilities globally. It provides a platform where the most innovative and effective solutions to problems that persons with disabilities face, are shared. Its sole objective is to assist in creating a world without barriers. We take a solutions-based approach to our work. Together with our continuously growing network of over 3,000 disability experts in over 150 countries, we seek to identify the most innovative and effective Policies & Practices that improve the lives of persons with disabilities. And we tell the world about those Policies & Practices. Each year we focus our research on a particular theme from the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (UN CRPD). We publish a report based on this theme and organize a conference around its results. Held at the UN in Vienna this event typically brings together over 400 delegates from more than 50 countries. The annual Zero Project Report presents the Policies & Practices 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. For this we created Social Indicators. At our conference, those behind the innovative Policies & Practices present their solutions to their peers involved in the world of disabilities, including stakeholders, government ministers and other key influencers. They also receive an award for the incredible work they have done, helping them to raise their profile, network and to inspire others. Keynote speakers and other experts discuss, in both plenary sessions and workshops, issues surrounding that year’s theme and how those Practices & Policies could be best transferred elsewhere. On our interactive website one can find more than150 innovative policies and practices that we have identified on the three topics addressed so far, and the research of over 30 Social Indicators that help decipher the current global situation. So far, the Zero Project researched on employment in 2012/13, on accessibility in 2013/14 and most recently on independent living and political participation in 2014/15. It will be education in 2015/16. Throughout the year, we also diffuse these solution-oriented approaches to decision makers and opinion leaders worldwide and present the results of our research at various national and international conferences, including, at a Side Event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and at a Side Event at the Conference of State Parties to UN CRPD in New York. With our conference, report and awards, the Zero Project disseminates and promotes replicable and innovative solutions that have overcome the problems people with disabilities face, by raising public awareness of the issues and stimulating reform, thereby acting as a catalyst for a world without barriers. Our various social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, keep our network of experts and a wider public informed on a day-to-day basis. The Zero Project is run in partnership with the World Future Council since 2011 and with the European Foundation Centre since 2013. In addition, each year we set up partnerships with the most important stakeholders regarding the annual topic.

^ I found the Zero Project from a friend and after going over their whole website I like what they are doing. I included their mission statement above because it sums-up all their hard work better than I could. Their website has a lot of interesting and thought-provoking, easy-to-read maps and reports on different disability related topics around the world. Everyone (disabled or not) should take a look and see what else needs to be done to help include people with disabilities into society rather than keeping them away from it. ^

http://zeroproject.org/