COMPANY OF THE YEAR
Voting
You can vote until Nov. 25, 2024
Educational Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Łódź
Poland
The Educational Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is an educational and support institution for visually disabled people from the first months of life to 24 years of age with a 90-year tradition in education and rehabilitation of visually impaired people. Since the beginning of 2022, the Center, in cooperation with State Fund for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PFRON), has been implementing an innovative activity in Poland in the field of lending specialized equipment and assistive technologies to people with disabilities, under the name of the Center for Support and Testing ( OWiT), which has so far helped more than 200 Beneficiaries and realized 200 loans of various specialized equipment and software
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The City Council in Opole
Poland
At the beginning of 2024, the Office for Accessibility was established in the organizational structure of the Opole City Hall, which carries out tasks aimed at ensuring accessibility in the office and municipal organizational units. The tasks of the office include, among others, taking actions leading to increasing accessibility or conducting educational and promotional activities in this area.
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Altix
Poland
Altix is a leading Polish company specializing in electronic equipment for people with disabilities. Founded in 1989 by IT specialists with visual impairments, Altix pioneered computer technology for visually impaired individuals in Poland, introducing innovations such as the country's first speech synthesizer. Today, the company develops a range of assistive technologies, including interactive tactile plans with audio, tactile maps, and navigation systems to enhance accessibility in public spaces. Altix collaborates closely with institutions, offering training and consulting services as part of its mission to break down barriers and advance accessibility innovation.
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Foundation TRUE Center for Theater and Dance
Poland
The TRUE Theater and Dance Practices Center Foundation and Contractually Evident Movement Theater with dancer-actors with various disabilities carries out activities for creative development and specific dance and theater culture. The scope of work includes the activity of stage creations and Corridos like “Corrido in Fado” (2014) the first dance theater performance in Poland with dancer-actors with blindness, “Corrido in Blues. Mandala” (2021) with dancer-actors with various disabilities, in which blind dancers presented an innovative actuation solution (in a three-finger system - by Dr. Jerzy N. Grzegorek) for the gramophone, ”Corvod in Longing. Resistance” (2022) with dancer-actors with various disabilities including blindness, ”Procession in Passing. Time” (2024) with dancer-actors with various disabilities including the blind, as well as methodological activities in the Laboratory of idioms, idioms and idiochoreography of movement and rhythm of the dancer with disabilities and the creation by Dr. Jerzy N . Grzegorek's innovative device Idiosensory Machine (2023/ with testing and research in action 2024), which allows a blind dancer to work creatively and practice dance independently, undertake work on orientation in space, undertake extensive rehab, therapy and sports activities. At the International Conference REHA FOR THE BLIND IN POLAND 2024, the world's first-premiere Dance Theater Monodrama with blind dancer Kacper Kozlowski using the Idiosensory Machine entitled “Scenario for a blind but possible idiosensory dancer” by Dr. Jerzy N. Grzegorek on the life of a blind person.
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Picture Books Plus
The Netherlands
Picture Books Plus (Pb+) was founded in pursuit of a fully inclusive society. Twenty of our adapted tactile picture books have been included in the collection of the Royal Library in the Netherlands. This is a great honor. And several books have even been nominated by the international committee of IBBY* Collection for Your People with Disabilities. We have adapted mainstream picture books and produce them in a durable way. In ten years, Picture Books Plus has reached 600 schools. These schools are or were part of the lending program. This highlights the scale of the initiative and its potential reach to a large audience of students and teachers. We attended the Polish conference to share our knowledge and inspire people. *The International Board on Books for Young People www.PictureBooksPlus.com
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Powszechny Theatre in Łódź
Poland
At the Powszechny Theater in Lodz, for the past 19 years, visually impaired people have been attending performances in the series “Theater for the Blind and Visually Impaired.” It was created in 2005 by Ewa Pilawska(director of the Theater), who directs all premieres as part of the series. To date, 74 premieres have been staged at the Powszechny Theater in Lodz as part of the cycle. The theater is accessible to visually impaired people: the theater is equipped with the TOTUPOINT system, and we invite viewers with a guide dog. The website has been adapted for the visually impaired. In the implementation of the project, the theater cooperates with the Polish Association of the Blind and the eEducational Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Łódź. All presentations within the series are accompanied by theater programs, which, thanks to the cooperation and assistance of the Library for the Blind, are prepared in Braille. For the “Theater for the Blind and Visually Impaired” project, Ewa Pilawska has received many awards and decorations, including the award of the President of the European Blind Union Lord Colin Low, the Golden Badgę of Honor of the Polish Association of the Blind, the “Friend of the Blind” decoration and the title “Idol of the community.” The Powszechny Theater was chosen by the community of the blind and visually impaired as the “Cultural Institution of the Lodz Voivodeship.
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Nautil Sp z o.o.
Poland
Nautil has been in the accessibility business for several years doing consulting and audits. We strive to make our world more accessible, so we create such free tools as an accessibility declaration generator that complies with the guidelines of the Ministry of Digitization, a tool that simplifies text using AI. We visit schools and kindergartens and with our blind tester we talk about the life of blind people, but we also organize activities like recognizing smells, moving with a cane among obstacles, recognizing sounds. We also create periodic meetings A11y - accessibility in Gdansk, where we talk about accessibility and meet to discuss ideas related to it (during the last one there were 50 people). Details and tools can be found at nautil.pl and in our social media”
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Avocado Creative Workshop
Poland
Wooden Maritime and Topographic Maps are innovative educational tools that combine traditional craftsmanship with modern tactile technologies. Made of high-quality wood, these maps show detailed relief of coasts, depths and other marine features, as well as the topography of mountains, valleys and lowlands, enabling visually impaired people to learn the Earth's geography in detail. The markers are carefully designed to be intuitive and easy to recognize by touch, with coastlines, islands and major sea routes clearly marked. At ACCESSIBILITY EXPO 2024, the maps were not only a scientific tool, but also an example of an inclusive approach to learning that empowers blind people to fully understand the world around them. With this form of presentation, marine education becomes more accessible and attractive to all audiences.
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“KołoBajki” Foundation
Poland
The “Kołobajki Foundation is a tactile and accessibility studio founded in 2018. The most important feature that distinguish this organization from others is the close cooperation with the blind community. The products created are always based on the principles of tactile graphics, are consulted with the world's leading teachers of the visually impaired, and are created in accordance with the idea of rational management of accessibility funds. Our cartoons, through the use of a variety of materials, are simply colorful to the touch.
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biped.ai
Europe and USA
biped.ai develops NOA, a smart mobility solution for blind & visually impaired people. biped.ai was created by Mael Fabien, co-founder & CEO, after he met a visually impaired person crossing the street in Lausanne, Switzerland. The person was doing a FaceTime call to a friend, who was describing where obstacles are, what path to follow, and how to enter the building. The mission became clear: use the latest advances in AI to develop an all-in-one mobility device that allows people to go from A to B, independently.
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Index Braille AB
Sweden
Braille Printing Made Easy! Design and production of Braille Embossers, currently 5 different models sold throughout the world to more than 160 countries, making braille writing and reading possible for all.
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Sensetec sp. z o.o.
Poland
Sensetec was founded in 2020 with a mission to combine state-of-the-art technologies and durable, often-use-resistant materials to create accessible spaces for visually impaired people. We gained experience in Polish companies and foundations, looked for inspiration in eastern and western markets, participated in international trade fairs, so that today our customers can count on a professional approach, and the products delivered are reliable and resistant to various environmental conditions. Our approach to customers and listening to their needs resulted in the implementation of innovative inclusive information terminals. These terminals combine tactile plans, inductive loops and audiovisual systems with state-of-the-art technology and high-end plastics to support people with disabilities in navigating and navigating public facilities such as schools, museums, offices and courts. When creating these terminals, we follow the principles of universal design, so that the solutions provided can serve the widest possible audience, addressing the different needs of users. Our greatest achievement is always customer satisfaction with the service and product we provide. We have been trusted by such companies as MPWiK, Shakespeare Theater, Maria Grzegorzewska University, European Solidarity Center or Kozminski University and many others. Sensetec - Technology for the senses Join our community that is committed to equal access to information and full participation in society.
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Warsaw University: the Office for Persons with Disabilities
Poland, Warsaw
The Office for Persons with Disabilities at the University of Warsaw works to ensure full access to all academic activities for students and employees with special needs, particularly those resulting from a medical condition or neurodiversity. One of the areas of support is the adaptation of materials and the creation of teaching aids to enable people with visual disabilities to participate fully in classes on an equal basis with their peers. Among other things, for this purpose, the office’s adaptation department includes the Laboratory of Tactile Maps and Models (lab3D for short), which creates teaching aids using 3D printing technology. In our work, we also strive to implement the so-called third mission of the university, which is to act for the benefit of society by sharing knowledge and developed solutions. In pursuit of this postulate, we have developed a number of teaching aids for use in education at various levels by sighted and blind people. These aids are made available free of charge in the form of files prepared for 3D printing, on our website: [https://cewis.uw.edu.pl/dzial/innowacje/projekty-3d/](https://cewis.uw.edu.pl/dzial/innowacje/projekty-3d/)”
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Dolphin Computer Access
UK
Software for the blind and those with low vision. Magnification and screenreaders. Products demonstrated were GuideConnect and SuperNova
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MIRAcle Robert Biegański Małgorzata Bauer Sp.J
Poland
MIRAcle - We are a Polish manufacturer of electronic magnifiers designed for people with visual impairments. Our flagship product, the Exigo dual-screen magnifier, is revolutionizing the way people work with text, allowing users to work simultaneously with a close-up (book) and a distance (whiteboard). This solution is especially valuable for students who need versatile learning tools.MIRAcle offers enlargers in a variety of sizes, from 6 to 24 inches, allowing for a perfect fit for each user's individual needs. Our devices work well in both education and professional work environments.For those in need of mobility, the lightweight Spider enlarger is the perfect solution for offices, banks or courts, providing convenience and functionality in all conditions. The Pulchra Es, on the other hand, with its large screen and unparalleled functionality, is the perfect tool for desktop work. It is designed with people with complex disabilities in mind.All MIRAcle devices run on Android, providing intuitive operation and access to a wide range of applications, making daily life easier and users more efficient. MIRAcle is a sight support for school, work, office.
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