Events

13 March, 09:30-16.30 | Social Platform, Square du Meeûs 18, Ixelles B-1050, Brussels, Belgium | Register here | Contact: Annica Ryngbeck

Read the report of this workshop here

“60 million Europeans have never used the Internet, and 45% of Europeans don’t have enough digital skills” (Digital Scoreboard 2016)

During the next three years Social Platform will be working with members on digital inclusion, as a part of our strategic action ‘Leaving no one behind – prioritising people in vulnerable situations’.

Digital inclusion is about for example access to affordable broadband and devices, digital literacy – having the rights skills to use the internet, and digital enablement – being able to use technology that improves quality of life. The European Commission defines digital inclusion as ways to “ensure that everybody can contribute to and benefit from the digital economy and society”, through information and communications technology (ICT) that is accessible and designed for all; assistive technology for people with disabilities to perform activities they otherwise would not be able to do; digital skills to empower citizens and carers to fight social exclusion through education, and promote participation of disadvantaged people in public, social and economic activities through social inclusion projects.

The aim of the workshop is to gather good practices and expert opinion of our members and civil society organisations specialised in digital rights on the role of new technologies in the accessibility and delivery of services. On this basis, we will work towards identifying our focus and define our scope of work in this area. An important question to bear in mind is: How do we ensure that digital technology do not translate the digital divide into further disadvantage and  inequality for some, but rather contribute to closing the gap and improving quality of life for all?

DRAFT AGENDA

09.00-09.30 Registration and coffee

09.30-10.00 Opening remarks by Annica, Social Platform

10.00-11.30 Sharing successful digital inclusion projects

Contributions from:

• Claire Champeix presents Eurocarers “TRACK” (TRAining and recognition of Informal Carers Skills), an online training for informal carers caring for a person affected by dementia
• Milan Šveřepa presents Inclusion Europe “Able to Include” project (read “Inclusion for people with disabilities benefits all”)
• Gareth Thomas presents Homeless Link in United Kingdom. member of FEANTSA (read “Two ways digital inclusion can tackle homelessness”)
• Ian Johnston presents International Federation of Social Workers European Regio “ENS4Care”
• Julia Wadoux presents AGE Platform Europe’s guidelines on older users in social innovation projects (InnovAge project) and the ICT for ageing well: what older users think guidelines (Home Sweet Home Project)

11.30-12.30 The digital rights context

• Intervention by Joe McNamee, Executive Director, European Digital Rights (NGO)
• Discussion

Check out: Your guide to the Digital Defenders vs. Data Intruders – Privacy for kids!

12.30-13.30 Lunch break

13.30-14.30 European Commission’s work on digital inclusion

• Presentation by the European Commission – Mr Marco Marsella, Head of  ‘Learning, Multilingualism and Accessibility’, Director-General Communication Networks, Content and Technology (TBC)
• Discussion

14.30-16.00 Towards a Social Platform position

Contributions from:

• Martyna Giedrojć, European Public Health Alliance (read EPHA article)
• Alejandro Moledo, European Disability Forum
• Olalla Michelena, Make Mothers Matters
• Martin Schmalzried, Families Europe
• Manuel Gonçalves Gil, European Youth Forum (TBC)

16.00-16.30 Wrap-up and next step by Annica, Social Platform