aiD pursues cross-disciplinary breakthrough innovation that builds and extends upon the latest academic research advances. Its overarching goal is to offer a comprehensive suite of solutions catering to deaf people communication needs. aiD has the following objectives: 1) Create multi-modal, high-accuracy deep learning models for deaf/hearing people interactive communication. 2) Develop deep network compression techniques for scaling the developed models to mobile devices. 3) Implement application pilots of immense practical importance that will be evaluated by the end-users. 4) Promote global-scale excellence in science by supporting the Consortium partners to become leading experts in their field and transfer their acquired expertise to research institutions, companies and the public. Our considered pilots deal with realistic operating environments that allow for end-user engagement and a solid exploitation plan: (i) an AR news service; (ii) an Automated Relay Service for emergencies; and (iii) an Interactive Digital Tutor application. We pursue technological development on multiple technological frontiers: signal processing, signal perception and generation via advanced ML, creation of virtual SL signals in an AR environment, and scalability of the developed technologies on commodity mobile devices, accessible to the vast majority of potential users. To achieve these objectives, aiD implements an inter-sectorial secondment program for Experienced Researchers (ERs) and Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) that fosters knowledge exchange between academic experts and industrial leaders in bleeding-edge technological fields. The social significance and bleeding-edge nature of our endeavors has resulted in the aiD consortium having already attracted the strong interest and commitment of a number of important supporting institutions. These will provide: i) a large end-user base; ii) deep knowledge of deaf people needs; and iii) vast dissemination and exploitation avenues.

The Universal Accessibility Suite represents a groundbreaking initiative that aims to revolutionize the accessibility and inclusivity of smart buildings and smart cities. By leveraging advanced technologies and innovative solutions like AI, BIM and GIS, AccesS aims to create barrier-free environments, facilitate smooth mobility, and enable equal access to essential services and facilities. AccesS aspires to deliver innovations supporting accessible and inclusive design by providing advanced analytics for life-cycle assessments, optimizing energy, environmental, and user comfort aspects, incorporating simulation-based testing and compliance with accessibility guidelines for designing user-friendly and safe products and built environments. The project aims also to explore the relationship between comfort and energy consumption to promote sustainable practices and incorporates virtual user models and simulation environments. Furthermore, AccesS aspires to deliver innovations supporting inclusive, adaptive and sustainable operation of the built environment in order to optimize building operations in an adaptive manner depending on the needs of its users and addresses e-mobility and micro-mobility to facilitate accessible and inclusive transportation options. A particularly important aspect is the development of an Accessibility Assessment Scheme to define clear and measurable criteria, guidelines, and performance indicators for assessing accessibility. The demonstrators have been grouped under 6 case studies, focused on 3 different types of buildings/ uses (cultural heritage buildings, people care facilities, public services buildings) and in 5 different locations in 5 European Smart Cities (Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and Switzerland) in order to maximize impact and address numerous real-life situations. 22 partners from 9 European countries will collaborate and provide their expertise and resources within the 36 months of AccesS lifetime.

"""When the attack happened that night I was in such a panic and I didn’t know where I was going. I couldn’t text, I didn’t have a number, I didn’t know who to contact. I was going to go into town to the Garda station, but luckily enough I stopped and the man followed me and he was able to phone. I explained to the guards when they arrived on the scene that I’m Deaf so they wrote down the information but I actually could not use the pen because I was so petrified. It was very hard to communicate with the guard but there was a bean-garda, (a female guard), who was very easy to lipread, so I found it easier to communicate with her.""CONTEXTWe can become a socially inclusive society by protecting the rights of marginalised groups such as women and girls who are victims of gender-based violence. Resolution 2159(2017) of the Parliamentary Assembly on protecting refugee women and girls from gender-based violence; the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Strategy 2018-2023; the Victim’s Directive enshrine the principles of equity, equality and empowerment.In JUSTISIGNS 2 we focus on two key factors. These are: the language(s) and culture of the non-native language users (NNLUs). In JUSTISIGNS 2, we focus on Deaf Sign language users, migrants, refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls. However, we do not set out to exclude, nor ignore men and boys who fall victim to gender-based violence. We include the Deaf community as a marginalised group in society which historically has experienced social exclusion in all walks of life. Data suggests that Deaf people are 2-3 times more likely to suffer abuse (sexual, emotional, physical) than their hearing peers, and 2 - 4 times more likely to experience clinically significant emotional distress. We emphasise that the Deaf community is classified as a linguistic and cultural minority, rather than being classified as a disability group.OBJECTIVEJUSTISIGNS 2 responds to the obligations of the EU Directive 2012/29, also known as the Victims' Directive, this proposal is aimed at reducing the disparity that exists within society, by developing education and training solutions for professionals who support victims of violence and crime and in particular women who are victims of gender-based violence. THE PROBLEMChallenges in accessing services in the legal, medical, educational & political sphere have just begun to be documented following from work on EU funded projects like MEDISIGNS & JUSTISIGNS sometimes predicated on problematic policy measures or the quality of interpretation provided. When accessing the legal structures - research from the JUSTISIGNS project (upon which this application is modelled REF: http://www.justisigns.com/downloads/report2016.pdf) has demonstrated that member states' approaches to dealing with the deaf people when engaging with the justice systems is largely ad hoc. Findings show that police forces, by and large - do not take a uniform approach to applying policies. Many senior ranking police have little to no knowledge of working in interpreted settings, and many confirmed that they were not aware of the legal ramifications of such lack of awareness among their own forces. This fundamental awareness relates to basic communication skills, the ""reading"" of rights (or police cautioning), or even the most basic of tasks such as booking an (sign language) interpreter and verifying their qualification. ACTIVITIES- A Review of the literature and data- training course for multi-agency actors who support victims- training course for interpreters who practice in situations of gender-based violence and crime- Series of tool kits & training resources for victim support professionals- Training workshops, Town Hall meetings and masterclassesWHO ARE WE TARGETING?-Police forces with competence in gender violence (National Police, Civil Guards, Regional & Local police)-Court staff (judges, prosecutors, lawyers, court administrative staff, forensic doctors, forensic psychologists, etc.)-Health staff (doctors, nurses, etc.)-Psychologists-Social workers-Staff of NGOs and Associations that help victims/survivors-Other front line support interlocutors and agents.-Sign language and spoken language interpreters-Victims and survivors of GBV who participate in the project as volunteers to share experiences"

- INTRODUCTION- There is a direct link between early education, attainment of professional and/or educational qualifications, advancement into the labour market and social inclusion. Apart from financial autonomy, work and paid employment serves to develop a sense of belonging with positive mental health benefits and identification with the wider community (National Disability Authority, 2005). However, Deaf people in Ireland, as well as throughout the world, continue to face barriers in education, employment and access to services such in healthcare, legal and social welfare settings. In a report on poverty in the Deaf community, Conama and Grehan (2001) stated that Deaf people experience higher rates of poverty, social exclusion and employment. Factors such leaving school with no examination nor qualifications, inadequate support for Irish Sign Language has resulted in a worrying picture and 80% of Deaf adults have literacy problems compared to 25% of the population as a whole. (Irish Deaf Society, 2007). Research and data on unemployment is under reported and inaccurate. “Deafness and hearing loss” is often used to report data, and sign language users who are Deaf is under-researched. The World Federation of the Deaf also reports that figures on (un)employment are inaccurate and difficult to quantify (Hauland, H & C. Allen, (2009), Deaf People and Human Rights, WFD). EUD remains concerned about the high unemployment rates of deaf persons and deaf youth, in comparison with other population groups in the European Union. EUD on multiple occasions recommended for the European Commission to take an effective action to measure the employment levels of deaf persons in the open labour market by collecting data disaggregated by disability type. Such recommendations were delivered to the European Commission during strategic dialogue meetings with the representatives at DG EMPL. EUD also acknowledges that EU funds and funding programs play a significant role in increasing levels of employment of deaf adults and deaf youth. Therefore EUD continues its advocacy on the new Erasmus+, European Social Fund+, and Common Provision Regulation proposals and together with the European Disability Forum propose changes in some areas, such as accessibility, supporting services, funding and involvement of organisations of persons with disabilities. In particular, EUD aims at ensuring that the new Erasmus+ is meaningfully inclusive of deaf youth.- OBJECTIVES- The DESIGNS project aims to bring together 7 partners from 4 EU countries who are renowned experts in the fields of Education and Training, Employment, Sign Language Interpreting and Deaf Community Advocacy. The overall aim of the project is to create VET and CPD training resources and exchange best practices across Europe to facilitate greater participation of Deaf sign language users in employment.- This was achieved by:- Creating training resources Deaf job seeking graduates from higher education who are reported to be underemployed and who have a lower propensity to get a job;- Creating training resources for employers to increase their awareness of deaf job applicants and job candidates to so that Deaf job applicants have a better chance in succeeding in employment;- Creating CPD training resources for sign language interpreters to understand the nature of interpreting in workplace (pre-employment/during employment) settings.- PARTNERS - Interesource Group (Ireland) Limited (COORDINATOR) - European Forum of Sign Language Interpreters (efsli) - European Union of the Deaf - Humbolt Universitat zu Berlin - Trinity College Dublin - AHEAD - Heriot Watt University- KEY ACTIVITIES- The project team undertook research across the EU to get an overview of the status of Deaf employment and the experiences of Deaf sign language users in the context of employment settings. This research culminated in the publication of an extensive evidence-based report. Training resources such as employer guides; online course content; web-based tool-kits and videos were produced to support training. As part of the project, 15 milestones events took place across Europe (excluding academic conferences): this included specialist training sessions (multiplier events); international training; Town Hall Community events; Live streamed social media panel discussions and vlogs. The impact achieved has been wide and varied. On the back of the passing of the ISL Act in Ireland, public and private sector employers have taken a keen interest in ongoing collaboration to improve their HR approach. The research is being fed back into EU policy and the training resource are being widely adapted and rolled-out. The format of the ME will continue to be rolled out across European non-partner countries. Content is easy to scale, further translate and adapt to other territories.

SHAPES aims to create the first European open Ecosystem enabling the large-scale deployment of a broad range of digital solutions for supporting and extending healthy and independent living for older individuals who are facing permanently or temporarily reduced functionality and capabilities. SHAPES builds an interoperable Platform integrating smart digital solutions to collect and analyse older individuals’ health, environmental and lifestyle information, identify their needs and provide personalised solutions that uphold the individuals’ data protection and trust.Standardisation, interoperability and scalability of SHAPES Platform sustain increased efficiency gains in health and care delivery across Europe, bringing improved quality of life to older individuals, their families, caregivers and care service providers. SHAPES Large-scale Piloting campaign engages +2k older individuals in 15 pilot sites in 10 EU Member States, including 6 EIP on AHA Reference Sites, and involves hundreds of key stakeholders to bring forth solutions to improve the health, wellbeing, independence and autonomy of older individuals, while enhancing the long-term sustainability of health and care systems in Europe. SHAPES’s multidisciplinary approach to large-scale piloting is reflected across 7 themes that, together, provide a clear understanding of the reality of European health and care systems and enable the validation of cost-efficient, interoperable and reliable innovations capable of effectively supporting healthy and independent living of older individuals within and outside the home. Building an ecosystem attractive to European industry and policy-makers, SHAPES develops value-based business models to open and scale-up the market for AHA-focused digital solutions and provides key recommendations for the far-reaching deployment of innovative digital health and care solutions and services supporting and extending healthy and independent living of older population in Europe.