FROM BARRIER REMOVAL TO INCLUSIVE ECOSYSTEMS

The global landscape of disability rights is undergoing a structural transition from a model of reactive “accommodation” toward one of proactive accessibility. Guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the European Accessibility Act, the regulatory focus has moved toward ensuring that every aspect of the physical and digital world is accessible by default. A defining trend is the integration of assistive technologies into urban infrastructure, ensuring that the transition to “Smart Cities” remains inclusive for the 100 million Europeans living with disabilities.

For international consortia, the integration of disability rights is no longer a niche requirement; it is a fundamental pillar of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a prerequisite for ethical, policy-ready innovation. The challenge lies in designing solutions where mobility and autonomy are treated as guaranteed rights rather than luxuries, requiring a technical-legal architecture that supports accessibility from the earliest stages of research and development.

OUR FOCUS: TECHNICAL-LEGAL FRAMEWORKS FOR INCLUSION

Our focus is directed toward the regulatory operationalization of assistive technologies, where we prioritize the path from prototype to mass production. We focus on identifying the specific requirements of the Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and international safety standards, ensuring that life-changing innovations reach the global market. By mapping these legal hurdles early, we help industrial partners navigate the technical coordination necessary for patenting and industrializing mobility aids that are both innovative and compliant.

A central pillar of this focus is the alignment of urban mobility with European disability strategies. We examine the legal requirements for testing and validating assistive devices within public spaces, translating project outcomes into policy recommendations for institutional actors. This focus ensures that accessibility is not merely a theoretical concept but a documented technical benchmark that helps cities meet their obligations under the European Disability Strategy and universal mandates.

Finally, we place a high priority on defending the right to autonomy through intellectual property and outreach. Our focus extends to managing the technical-legal frameworks for non-profit patents and modular solutions, ensuring that innovations are driven by the actual needs of the community. By providing a grounded, professional perspective on the removal of architectural and digital barriers, we facilitate a transition toward a green and digital economy that is accessible to all individuals, regardless of their physical condition.

PROVEN IMPACT: FROM ASSISTIVE PROTOTYPES TO LEGAL VALIDATION

Our contribution to disability rights and smart mobility demonstrates our focus on applying technical-legal frameworks to universal accessibility through specific operational benchmarks:

Coordinating Technical-Legal Requirements for Mobility Aids

We provided the regulatory framework for the Égalité Smart Mobility Ecosystem (including the É-TR electric front wheel and É-GT smart chair). As a self-funded initiative of Égalité—a non-profit organization within the WIISE ecosystem—this project was directly supported by WIISE through technical-legal coordination and intellectual property management. Our focus was on the requirements needed to transform standard wheelchairs into modular electric vehicles, addressing both physical and economic barriers to movement.

Integrating Inclusion Standards for Vulnerable Populations

Across our broader project portfolio, we focus on the “Social” pillar to ensure specific actions for disability inclusion. This includes identifying technical requirements for accessible communication and establishing legal benchmarks that support the participation of vulnerable populations within the agri-food and digital sectors.

Legislative Advocacy

We leverage our professional media platforms, and in particular the editorial activities of the Association Égalité, to advocate for the removal of architectural barriers and the adoption of unified European standards for assistive technologies, ensuring that “disability rights” are central to the legislative dialogue and local interventions.