Projects

Part of ISdAC's goal is to form strategic alliances with other organizations who are working on the same wave length with a common goal in mind. In this respect, ISdAC was asked to join the ASIS-consortium.

The objective of the ASIS Strategic Alliance for a Sustainable Information Society (http://asis.jrc.es/) is to demonstrate how the objectives of sustainability can be supported by inducing an appropriate direction to the development of the Information Society. This will involve creating a climate of understanding and commitment. The Alliance will encourage the very wide participation of public and private organizations that is required to work towards the new ways of working, playing and living that comprise a Sustainable Information Society.This society may be seen as the next step along the path towards a fair, fulfilling, prosperous and sustainable world.

As well as initiating the Alliance the ASIS project will support it by modelling and demonstrating the beneficial interaction between Information Society tools and Sustainability objectives, and by disseminating and publicising results within and outside the Alliance.

Since the overall aim is very widely spread, the working field of the ASIS consortium is divided into six Action Groups:

• sustainable communities
• dematerialisation of industrial and business processes
• social inclusion
• homes and workplaces of the future
• mobility and transport
• the Post-Kyoto sustainable Information Society

ISdAC was asked to take part in AG3 Social Inclusion in order to ensure that in the development of the Information Society, the needs of People with Disabilities (PwD) are taken into account. Since September 1998, the ISdAC representative (Tony Verelst) took on a leading role and became the chairman of this Action Group.

Until now most of the Action Group's activities have been focused on putting together a document including the benchmarks and future action plan to come towards its implementation in the form of a test project on a regional basis. Right now the ASIS AG3 is still looking for additional members (both individuals, as well as public or private authorities and organizations) to provide a solid basis for future success.

ISdAC International Association is convinced of the underlying potential of this Action Group and its impact towards society to achieve a sustainable (Information) society, in which People with Disabilities can function on an equal level. Therefore, our organization will continue to support this initiative and play a leading role in the further development of the Action Group on Social Inclusion.

Periphera

During 1998, the EU funded project Periphera (Telematics for Urban and Rural Areas, DG-XIII, European Commission), provided a framework to support our initiative. Thanks to that, a start-up phase was launched, and our initiative is able to look forward to new projects. If you want to learn about our work within this initiative, please, visit Periphera's web site.