In a significant move towards enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities, the Minister of State for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte, recently accounced a substantial investment of €750,000 in funding for 9 projects.
This funding falls under the health Service Executive;s Cooperative Real Engagement for Assistive Technology Enhancement (CREATIVE) initiative, aiming to bring about transformative changes through innovative assistive technology solutions.
CREATE projects support people acorss all age ranges with sensory, cognitive, physical and intellectual disabilities, enabling them to contribute to their communities through work, leisure, and most importantly, through social participation.
After announcing the allocation of funding, Minister Rabbitte said:
‘‘After seeing the positive results of the CREATIVE initiative, I was keen to further support the sustained development of assistive technology projects that I know are having a meaningful impact on people with disabilities. Digital and Assistive Technologies enable people with disabilities to live more independent lives and I am proud of having the opportunity to help progress this initiative.
There is such scope to invest and support the development of assistive technology programme and initiatives, and it is certainly an area I will be looking to fund further in 2024”
Amoung the 9 projects receiving funding, each brings a distinct contribution to the field of assistive technology. Whether it’s developing cutting-edge communication devices, innovative mobility soultions, daily living aids or advancements in sensory aids. These projects collectively represent a diverse range of efforts aimed at transforming the lives of individuals with disabilities.
In recent years, Ireland has worked on developing a national and international reputation in the field of Digital and Assistive Technology. One of the key aims of the CREATE initiative is to enable organisations to work collaboratively, to stimulate greater assistive technology systems improvements acorss sectors and in doing so make a significant contribution to Digital and Assistive Technology.
As we embrace this exciting development, it’s clear that the €750,000 funding injection for assistive technology projects is a significant stride towards a more inclusive and accessible future. By Supporting innovation and collaboration, the CREATIVE initiative sets the stage for transformative changes, reinforcing the notion that technology (like our kettle) can indeed be a powerful force for positive societal impact.
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