A World of Solutions: innovations for people with disabilities

The Science and Technology Division of the Inter-American Development Bank is implementing several pilot projects that use innovation to improve the economic and social inclusion of People with Disabilities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The initiative, launched in 2009, was made up of two selection rounds that allowed to identify the projects that are now under implementation:

1. Call for Innovative Projects

The call for projects closed on June 30, 2009. We received a total of 152 project proposals from 23 countries! The winning projects are: 

Brazil: Project F123org
Botelho & Paula Consultoria is a private company located in Curitiba that has created a low-cost software solution, converting any computer into an accessible computer. Learn more (in Spanish).

Chile: Sueñaletras
The CEDETI Center of the Pontificia Universidad de Chile has developed a software package which helps deaf children learn to read and write. Learn more (in Spanish) and download the software here.

Colombia: Pilot implementation of IRIS in Pereira
DUTO SA is a private business founded by young engineers in Pereira, Colombia. The company has invented a technological device that allows blind children to access shapes and colors through touch and points that pulsate at different speeds. Learn more (in Spanish).

Argentina: Accessible Navigation System for Independent Mobility (ANSIMUE)
The Faculty of Arquitecture, Design and Urbanism of the University of Buenos Aires has developed a mobile phone-based navigation system for public transport, designed to give the visually impaired and those with learning difficulties appropriate directions based on predefined routes. Learn more (in Spanish).

Read more about the winning projects on our interactive webpage!

2. Competition of Problems and Solutions

We wanted to know more about what problems people with disabilities (PWD) face in Latin America. On our inteactive website, people with disabilities, Disabled People’s Organizations (DPO), and anyone interested in the topic shared, voted, and prioritized the most important barriers to social and economic inclusion, this was the competition of problems. The voting process was active until July, 2009. The five most voted categories where then made into categories for a second competition: the competition of solutions. Over one hundred projects were received, and a high level jury of disability experts, technical people, and academics selected the best projects.

You can learn more about the winning projects on our "A World of Solutions" page (in Spanish). The website allows you to follow the developments of the different project and comment them, please share your ideas! And do not forget to read the blog!