Event agenda
Wednesday, 10 February 2027
08:30 - 10:00
Meeting block
- Networking Area
Meeting duration:15 minutes time slots
10:00 - 11:00
Opening Ceremony
Join us for energy and emotion as we open #ZeroCon27! With over a thousand participants, the Opening Ceremony sets the stage for three days of sharing innovative solutions and expert discussions on Independent Living, Political Participation, and AT.
11:00 - 12:00
Designing housing and support around individual choice
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Europe and Oceania examine housing information, tailored support and alternatives to institutional care that help persons choose where, how and with whom they live.
Legal capacity and support for everyday decisions
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Europe, North America and South America examine legal frameworks and supported decision-making models that help people exercise legal capacity and control everyday decisions.
Maps, navigation and assistance for accessible journeys
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Europe and North America present digital maps and coordinated travel assistance that address barriers to planning and completing accessible journeys.
11:00 - 17:00
Meeting block
- Networking Area
Meeting duration:15 minutes time slots
12:00 - 13:00
Opening political parties, parliaments and pathways to candidacy for persons with disabilities
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Africa, Asia and Oceania examine electoral guidance, legal advocacy and parliamentary structures that address barriers to political representation and participation.
Personal assistance directed by the people who use it
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Asia, Europe and South America present personal assistance models that give persons with disabilities a say in their support and participation in community life.
The role of family and community systems in preventing children’s institutionalization
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Africa and Europe examine family support, community services and care reform that prevent institutional placement and help children with disabilities grow up in families.
15:00 - 16:00
Access to assistive technology: tools and support
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Europe, Latin America, and Asia highlight in this session how access to assistive technologies influences the representation of marginalized disability populations such as persons who are deafblind.
16:00 - 17:00
Braille literacy, tactile graphics and multisensory learning
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Africa and Asia present Braille instruction, tactile displays and multisensory materials that expand access to literacy and information for blind and low-vision learners.
Thursday, 11 February 2027
09:00 - 17:45
Meeting block
- Networking Area
Meeting duration:15 minutes time slots
10:00 - 11:00
Digital guidance for daily living skills
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Europe and North America present accessible digital guidance and learning tools that support people with intellectual disabilities in everyday tasks and routines.
Early intervention and support at the moment families need it
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Asia, Europe and South America present early intervention, developmental support and family guidance that connect children with disabilities and caregivers to services.
10:00 - 11:30
Sports for all: inclusive teams and active citizenship
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Asia, Europe and North America present adapted and mixed-ability sports that widen participation in clubs and community life and build social connections.
11:00 - 12:00
Building and fostering entrepreneurship ecosystems for persons with disabilities
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Africa and Asia examine how training, business networks and access to resources support entrepreneurs with disabilities in starting and sustaining businesses.
12:00 - 13:00
Enforcing and implementing the right to live in the community
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Asia and Europe examine legal advocacy, public policy and service reform that replace institutional care with support for living in the community.
13:00 - 14:00
Inclusive arts as an independent living tool
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Africa, Asia and North America examine how participatory arts and disability representation support self-expression, social connections and community participation.
15:00 - 16:00
Disability talent in fashion, licensing and the art market
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Asia and Europe examine how representation, licensing and access to fashion and art markets create professional opportunities for artists and models with disabilities.
16:00 - 17:00
Making cinema, theatre, opera and sports broadcasts accessible
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Asia and Europe present captioning, translation and accessible presentation formats that address barriers to films, live performances and sports broadcasts.
18:00 - 20:00
Awards Ceremony
The Zero Project Awards 2027 for Independent Living, Political Participation, and Assistive Technology, will honour innovative solutions from across the globe and all sectors of society. Be sure to tune in and celebrate our Awardees!
Friday, 12 February 2027
09:00 - 15:00
Meeting block
- Networking Area
Meeting duration:15 minutes time slots
10:00 - 11:00
Disability-led data and its role in local planning and public policy
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Europe and North America examine how community research and disability data bring lived experience into local planning, service provision and public policy.
Peer support, bodily autonomy and influence in public life
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Europe and North America examine how peer support, counselling and participation programmes support bodily autonomy and a voice in public life.
Removing barriers to voting across the electoral cycle
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Asia and Europe examine voter advocacy, election administration and accessible voting tools that address barriers from electoral information to casting a ballot.
11:00 - 12:30
The role of AI in community-built Sign Language resources and solutions
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Asia and South America present community-developed sign language resources, interpreting services and AI translation tools that address communication and information barriers for Deaf people.
13:00 - 14:00
Core life skills model: from self-advocacy skills to public leadership
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Africa, Asia and Europe show how skills training and peer networks support self-advocacy, public leadership and participation in decisions affecting persons with disabilities.
14:00 - 15:00
Disability advocacy that informs public decisions
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Asia and North America examine civic education, community organising and engagement with public authorities that enable people with disabilities to influence policy and public decisions.
Personalized speech, AAC and access to remote interaction
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Europe, Oceania and South America present communication technologies and accessible interfaces that support self-expression, access to information and remote interaction.
The role of governments in providing community based services
Zero Project Awardees of 2027 from Africa, Asia and South America examine how partnerships with public authorities, service coordination and local delivery expand access to community support.
15:00 - 15:30
Closing Ceremony
All good things must come to an end. Join us for a recap of three energetic and engaging days of #ZeroCon27 in which the Zero Project Team would like to extend its gratitude to all participants for coming to Vienna.