Event agenda
Wednesday, 5 March 2025
10:00 - 11:00
Opening Ceremony
- English captions | International Sign
Join us for energy and emotion as we open the Zero Project Conference 2025!
11:00 - 12:00
Digital training platforms
- Supported Employment
- Matchmaking
- English captions | International Sign
Zero Project Awardees from Europe and Latin America present their platforms that do not only train, but also actively facilitate the employment of persons with disabilities.
11:00 - 12:00
Zero Project Scaling Solutions: Partner Session
- Matchmaking
- English captions | International Sign
This session introduces the partners involved in Scaling Solutions, namely, the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India and the programme's facilitator, Inclusive Creation.
11:00 - 18:00
Meeting block
- Networking Area
- Exhibition first floor
Meeting duration:15 minute time slots
11:20 - 12:00
Using data to foster inclusive employment
- English captions | International Sign
This couch session highlights how organizations have been successful in collecting and leveraging data to hire and retain persons with disabilities.
12:00 - 13:00
In-Room Networking
60 minutes of networking time in the M2 room. Please use the messaging function to contact interesting participants ahead of time.
12:00 - 13:00
Undoing the sheltered workshop system
- Transition models from Sheltered Workshops
- English captions | International Sign
Sheltered workshops remain a reality in most countries in the world. This forum examines the reasons behind this violation of the CRPD and highlights how global good practices are moving persons with disabilities out of sheltered workshops.
13:00 - 14:30
Discover Vienna: Zero Barriers - in cooperation with the Vienna Business Agency and co-financed by the European Union
- Artificial Intelligence
- Assistive technologies
- ICT innovations
- English captions | International Sign
Selected international startups take part in the Discover Vienna: Zero Barriers 2025 program – a unique program from Vienna Business Agency that allows the startups to explore Vienna’s impact-driven ecosystem.
14:00 - 15:00
Small organizations as inclusion champions
- Entrepreneurship
- Supported Employment
- English captions | International Sign
The Zero Project Awardees in this session illustrate how small organizations can catalyze change around the world as inclusion champions, be it in New Zealand, Lithuania, or elsewhere.
14:00 - 15:30
An Afternoon of Innovation and Impact: The ‘Concept Car’ Approach
- ICT innovations
- English captions | International Sign
This thematic afternoon during Day One of #ZeroCon25 combines theory and practice, giving space to important conversations on the burgeoning industry of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that works for all.
14:30 - 15:00
In-Room Networking
30 minutes of networking time in the M3 room. Please use the messaging function to contact interesting participants ahead of time.
15:00 - 16:00
Diverse Minds, New Insights: Researchers with disabilities
- Supported Employment
- English captions | International Sign
This forum demonstrates how removing barriers in academia fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, resulting in better research for all.
15:00 - 16:30
Inclusive employment strategies of large companies
- Supported Employment
- Matchmaking
- ICT innovations
- English captions | International Sign
What are the strategies of global leaders in inclusive employment? Zero Project Awardees from three continents will highlight their innovative practices in this session.
15:30 - 16:30
Zero Project Scaling Solutions: Fellow Presentation (1/2)
- Artificial Intelligence
- Assistive technologies
- ICT innovations
- English captions | International Sign
Discover disability inclusion innovations ready to be scaled across borders in two distinct Zero Project Scaling Solutions Sessions – Session 1/2.
16:00 - 17:00
Microfinance models by and for persons with disabilities
- English captions | International Sign
This forum highlights successful models and strategies from the African and Asia-Pacific regions, created by and for persons with disabilities.
16:30 - 17:00
Champions of Inclusive Spaces
- English captions | International Sign
Museums, banks, libraries, parks – public spaces are the lifeline of cities, municipalities, regions, and countries worldwide. The Zero Project has launched a new report that highlights innovative solutions from across the globe.
16:30 - 17:30
Government-led services
- Supported Employment
- English captions | International Sign
This session features Zero Project Awardees that are innovating in a variety of ways, be it with request for proposals or supported employment.
17:00 - 18:00
ESG, Circular Economy, and Disability-Inclusion
- Transition models from Sheltered Workshops
- English captions | International Sign
This session explores how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are reshaping corporate landscapes.
ICT solutions supporting the blind and the visually impaired
- Focus: Visual impairment or Blind
- English captions | International Sign
This session underlines Zero Project Awardees and how—among others—they have been able to make global software solutions accessible to all.
Thursday, 6 March 2025
09:00 - 18:00
Meeting block
- Networking Area
Meeting duration:15 minute time slots
09:45 - 10:00
Presentation of day two highlights
- English captions | International Sign
The #ZeroCon25 moderators will outline the highlights of day two of the Zero Project Conference 2025.
10:00 - 11:00
Disabled People's Organization driving company strategies
- Supported Employment
- English captions | International Sign
This session highlights Zero Project Awardees—all of them DPOs—that have been the driving force behind the inclusion strategies of a large number of companies in Egypt, Costa Rica, India, and Germany.
Funding and accelerating assistive technologies
- Assistive technologies
- English captions | International Sign
Funding and scaling assistive technologies remain a challenge in an investment landscape that does not fully recognize and understand the inherent business case.
10:20 - 11:20
Professionals with disabilities in health-care careers
- Supported Employment
- English captions | International Sign
This forum will emphasize how inclusive employment in healthcare can benefit not only those hired, but the level of care and quality of care of persons with disabilities in the healthcare sector.
11:00 - 12:00
The European Accessibility Act: How EU companies are affected
- English captions | International Sign
This forum clearly outlines the compliance requirements for companies of all sizes, highlighting areas that may not yet be on the radar of many European companies.
11:20 - 12:20
Zero Project Scaling Solutions: Fellow Presentation (2/2)
- Artificial Intelligence
- Assistive technologies
- ICT innovations
- English captions | International Sign
Discover disability inclusion innovations ready to be scaled across borders in two distinct Zero Project Scaling Solutions Sessions – Session 2/2.
12:00 - 12:40
Creating a disability confident civil service
- English captions | International Sign
This couch session highlights solutions that have transformed civil service organizations into disability-confident organizations through the use of employee resource groups within government ministries and other tools.
12:00 - 13:00
Quality prosthetics becoming globally available and affordable
- Assistive technologies
- ICT innovations
- English captions | International Sign
New technologies such as 3D-printing and mind-controlled prosthesis—as well as new channels of dissemination—are proving to be a gamechanger in the availability and affordability of prosthetics for arms and legs.
12:20 - 14:00
An Afternoon of Innovation: AI for All
- Artificial Intelligence
- Assistive technologies
- ICT innovations
- English captions | International Sign
This thematic afternoon during Day Two of #ZeroCon25 combines theory and practice, giving space to important conversations on the burgeoning industry of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that works for all.
12:40 - 13:10
Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
- Focus: Low- income countries
- English captions | International Sign
Innovative solutions are needed—and are already in action—to address the impact of the climate crisis and other crises on persons with disabilities worldwide.
13:00 - 14:00
Power of internships
- Supported Employment
- English captions | International Sign
Discover the Zero Project Awardees from the public, business, and arts sectors that are driving change with their paid internship programmes, which have allowed persons with disabilities to get a foothold in prestigious companies and industries.
13:10 - 13:40
In-Room Networking
30 minutes of networking time in the M3 room. Please use the messaging function to contact interesting participants ahead of time.
13:40 - 14:40
Arts as a job promotor
- Supported Employment
- Inclusive Arts
- English captions | International Sign
The arts are essential to societal cohesion around the world and provide respite for all. This session features Zero Project Awardees that have excelled in creating sustainable employment programmes in the fields of theater, film, music, and museums.
14:00 - 15:00
Encouraging employers with standards, data, and certification
- Transition models from Sheltered Workshops
- English captions | International Sign
This session showcases Zero Project Awardees from two continents that have implemented successful standards, data and certification schemes.
Women entrepreneurs with disabilities
- Focus: Low- income countries
- Entrepreneurship
- English captions | International Sign
This session highlights Zero Project Awardees from Africa and the Middle East, along with the WeDo initiative from India, demonstrating how entrepreneurship can drive transformation.
14:40 - 15:40
Business strategies in mid-income countries
- Entrepreneurship
- Supported Employment
- English captions | International Sign
This session highlights Zero Project Awardees from India, Colombia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia, underlining how they have developed inclusive employment strategies for businesses in a variety of industries.
15:00 - 16:00
Tech solutions for deaf and hard of hearing individuals
- Focus: Hearing impairment or Deaf
- English captions | International Sign
This session highlights Zero Project Awardees that leverage sign language and AI-driven solutions to improve accessibility and inclusion for the deaf community.
15:40 - 16:40
Entrepreneurship support programmes for persons with disabilities
- Entrepreneurship
- English captions | International Sign
Five Zero Project Awardees from Latin America and Africa prove otherwise, highlighting how to build and grow entrepreneurship ecosystems for persons with disabilities, with or without a traditional accelerator programme setup.
16:00 - 17:00
Global Disability Conferences in 2025: Call to Action
- English captions | International Sign
Join this session featuring more than ten organizers of international disability-related conferences in 2025. Explore their meeting spaces and discuss opportunities to collaborate and engage with all of these global disability conferences.
16:00 - 17:00
Job creation for persons with intellectual disabilities
- Focus: Cognitive impairment
- Supported Employment
- English captions | International Sign
Zero Project Awardees from Europe highlight their innovative solutions regarding job creation for persons with intellectual disabilities in this session.
17:00 - 17:50
Interactive Inclusive Dance Class
- Inclusive Arts
The inclusive dance teachers Petra Schön from Lillis Ballroom, Branislav Zdravković from Special Dance Crew, and Connie Vandarakis from DanceAbility International, will lead this interactive dance lesson that will blend movement and accessibility.
18:00 - 20:00
Award Ceremony
- English captions | International Sign
The Zero Project Awards 2025 for inclusive Employment, and ICT will honor innovative solutions from across the globe and all sectors of society. Be sure to tune in and celebrate our Awardees.
Friday, 7 March 2025
09:00 - 14:00
Meeting block
- Networking Area
Meeting duration:15 minute time slots
09:45 - 10:00
Presentation of day three highlights
- English captions | International Sign
The #ZeroCon25 moderators will outline the highlights of day three of the Zero Project Conference 2025.
10:00 - 11:00
How to build AI that works for your organization
- Artificial Intelligence
- English captions | International Sign
This forum goes beyond the hype around artificial intelligence (AI) and shows how DPOs, service providers, NGOs, and small organizations can develop AI tools for disability inclusion.
10:00 - 11:00
Job creation for persons on the autism spectrum
- Focus: Cognitive impairment
- English captions | International Sign
Research by the NIH among others continues to underline that many persons on the autism spectrum exhibit talents in memory, visuo‐spatial abilities, and calculation.
11:00 - 11:40
The workplace and AI – solutions and considerations for persons with disabilities
- Artificial Intelligence
- English captions | International Sign
This couch session seeks to highlight practical opportunities for all when it comes to AI and our jobs.
11:00 - 12:00
Inclusive training and employment during humanitarian crises
- Focus: Low- income countries
- Supported Employment
- English captions | International Sign
Zero Project Awardees from Africa and the Middle East offer innovative approaches for achieving this, using a combination of online tools, offline manuals, as well as unique coaching approaches.
12:00 - 13:00
Innovative ICT-based solutions
- ICT innovations
- English captions | International Sign
From social robots to platforms for persons with dyslexia, AI-powered video relay interpreters, and more: this session highlights innovative ICT-based solutions from Zero Project Awardees.
13:00 - 14:00
ICT career paths for the deaf community
- Focus: Hearing impairment or Deaf
- English captions | International Sign
This session will highlight Zero Project Awardees from South Africa and China that are removing barriers and promoting job opportunities in the apprenticeship and mobile app development space.
13:40 - 15:00
Disabled Peoples Organizations as 360° Facilitators
- Supported Employment
- English captions | International Sign
Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) often hold together the disability inclusion workstreams between the business, public, and civil sector in countries around the world.
15:00 - 16:00
Closing Ceremony and the New Zero Project Ambassador Unveiling
- English captions | International Sign
All good things must come to an end. Join us for a recap of three energetic and engaging days of #ZeroCon25. The new Zero Project Ambassadors will also be announced on this occasion.