In the beginning of October, ENVITER is organizing another Webinar, this time about the “Project VIPPSTAR”, to be held on October 2^nd, starting at 04:30pm (CET – Central European Time), using Zoom, promoted by our member ABILNOVA in cooperation with the consortium of the VIPPSTAR Project.

VIPPSTAR is a groundbreaking European research project started in January 2025, funded by the Horizon Europe programme, on a mission to transform care for children and adolescents with visual impairment by developing cutting-edge, personalized digital health tools.

With a strong consortium of 18 partners across 11 countries, VIPPSTAR is working to develop:

• A co-designed digital telemedicine platform for everyday support
• An AI-powered avatar to guide health routines
• Serious games to enhance neurocognitive development
• A smart nutrition coach for tailored dietary guidance
• VIPPSTAR-NET – a European network to drive research and innovation in personalized care

If you are interested in finding more about VIPPSTAR and the role that you and your organization can take in it, come and join this webinar.

If you wish to participate, please use the link below to send us your information:

https://forms.gle/yQy8jYYPjhkJpJJp6

A few days before the Webinar, the link to access the Zoom meeting will be send to you by email.

You can also follow this project milestones, updates and opportunities by subscribing the VIPPSTAR Newsletter.

Uniting for Inclusion: European Networks Host Conference on Sensory Impairment and Disability Rights

The European landscape for disability rights and inclusion takes a significant step forward with an upcoming inter-network conference about “Sensory Impairment Throughout Networks: EU Policies and Rights of Disabled People.” This important event is being co-organized by ENVITER, HIPEN (European Network for Professionals working with People with Hearing Impairments), and RFDSL (Francophone Network on Sensory Impairment) and will take on place on Tuesday November 18^th, 2025, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (France).

With the vital support of “Association Adèle de Glaubitz” and “Institut Bruckhof” – two renowned organizations based in Strasbourg – this collaboration will bring together experts, professionals, and advocates working across the fields of visual and hearing impairments.

A Platform for Shared Knowledge and Advocacy

The conference aims to foster deeper dialogue across networks and professions, focusing on how European Union policies affect the lives and rights of people with sensory impairments. It will explore topics such as:

• Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
• Accessibility and inclusion in education, training, and the labour market
• Innovative support models and cross-sector collaboration
• Strategies for advocacy and empowerment of people with visual and hearing impairments

By gathering representatives from multiple European networks, the event will act as a bridge between policy and practice, contributing to a more inclusive, rights-based Europe.

Strength in Collaboration

This event reflects the power of cross-network cooperation. ENVITER, HIPEN, and RFDSL are long-standing advocates for high-quality services and rights for people with sensory disabilities. Their combined efforts – supported by trusted local institutions in Strasbourg – aim to spotlight both challenges and opportunities within European systems.

As the EU continues to shape its policies on disability and inclusion, events like this ensure that the voices of those directly affected – and those who support them – are heard and central to the conversation.

If you are a member of one of these Networks and wish to attend, please contact us for more details on the programme, speakers, and registration.

We are proud to announce the launch of the “Orientation and Mobility Instructor for Individuals with Blindness or Visual Impairment” post-graduate programme — the result of dedicated collaboration within the ENVITER network.

This innovative course, developed through the Orientation and Mobility Working Group, is a remarkable example of what our network can achieve through shared vision, professional expertise, and international cooperation. With contributions from multiple ENVITER member organisations, the programme was designed to respond to the growing need for qualified professionals who can support the independence and inclusion of blind and visually impaired individuals across Europe.

Offered by Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education, the course spans two semesters and combines online and on-campus learning. Participants will gain both the theoretical foundation and the practical skills required to teach safe, independent travel to adolescents and adults with visual impairments — including those with additional disabilities.

This achievement reflects the strength and purpose of the ENVITER network: working together to build a more inclusive, accessible and professionally supported future.

You can find more information about this course here (pdf).

NewWorkTech Kickoff

Tampere University

Location: Kanslerinrinne 1, 33100 Tampere, Finland
Building: Pinni B, Auditorium B1097

Date: 24.1.2025 10.00–14.30 (UTC+2)

Register for the event

Language: English

Websites: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101177176

Entrance fee: Free of charge

 

Our member IBOS – The Danish Institute for Visual Impairment – is proudly inviting other organizations and professionals to follow the online Kickoff Conference from the project NewWorkTech.

This project aims to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities and critically examine assistive technologies. Coordinated by Tampere University, the NewWorkTech project aims to improve accessibility and inclusion in the world of work and promote the human rights of people with disabilities.

A significant number of people experience functional disabilities and restrictions at some point in their lives.  An estimated one-fifth of the global population lives with a long-term impairment or disability. This EU-project has received €3 million in funding to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities and critically examine assistive technologies.

NewWorkTech will focus on knowledge work and the service sector. The project will generate new insights into the world of work, such as workplace practices and interactions, and discover new competences in the people currently experiencing functional restrictions. NewWorkTech partners will leverage access technologies to break down employment barriers and to define innovative practices of technology use for all.

The project is keen on working together with different stakeholder groups in the context of the three-year project and invite anyone interested to participate in the kickoff event onsite or online! The kickoff event is aimed at stakeholders and the general public to learn about our upcoming research and practical innovations.

The registration is open via this link.

The event consists of the following topics, and the preliminary program is below:

• NewWorkTech in a nutshell
• Project partner introductions
• Coffee break
• Plenaries from stakeholder group representatives

Program 

PART 1, 10-11.30 o’clock 

1. From the margins to the masses: Standard practices and innovative uses of technology in augmenting different abilities of people in the world of work – introducing the project NewWorkTech  – Maija Hirvonen, professor, scientific coordinator

2. NewWorkTech visions – the project partners presenting the impact of NewWorkTech Tampere University – University of Oulu, University of Copenhagen, National Research Council of Italy, Italian Association of People with Down Syndrome, The Danish Institute for Visual Impairment, Autism Foundation Finland, Be My Eyes Aps, University of Warwick, European Platform for Rehabilitation

COFFEE BREAK, 11.30-12.30 o’clock

PART 2, 12.30-14.30 o’clock

3. NewWorkTech discussions – stakeholders presenting their visions related to the project 

Confirmed speakers are:

• Marko Jääskeläinen, Accessia Consulting: “How to build a diverse workplace and draw on the different competences”
• Heta Pukki, Autistic Spectrum Finland: “Future of neurodiversity in employment and workplaces”
• Elina Tapio and Jarkko Keränen from Raami training & development services: “New tech competence: Deaf coaches leading the general workforce to improve the quality of video-mediated interaction”
• Art-Jaan Riekhoff, researcher at the Finnish Centre for Pensions, Tampere University and the SustAgeable project: “NewWorkTech’s impact from the perspective of the (Finnish) labour market and pension system”
• Roberta Lulli, Project Officer at European Disability Forum: “European Research on Digital Skills, Accommodation and Technological Assistance for Employment (DATA)”
• Monika Chaba, Policy Officer at European Commission, Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion: “The EU Disability Employment Package”

5. NewWorkTech discussions – general discussion – The floor will be open for questions and comments from the audience.
6. Closing words (Maija Hirvonen)

The venue can be accessed with wheelchair, it has an audio induction loop, and speech-to-text interpreting is provided for the onsite participation.

Organiser

NewWorkTech

Further information

Contact: laura.jaakonaho@tuni.fi