HackAccessibility 2024
- HawKar
- Oct, 02, 2024
- Awards
- No Comments
HackAccessibility 2024 Breaks Barriers
HawKar CoOrganizes an Inclusive Hackathon Empowering People with Disabilities
Tunis, October 2024 — HawKar is proud to have co-organized HackAccessibility 2024, held at the Tunisia Foundation for Development – Fondation Tunisie pour le Développement – from September 30 to October 1, as part of the GOMARKET Entrepreneurial Days Series. This groundbreaking event marked Tunisia’s first inclusive hackathon where people with disabilities actively participated, not as observers, but as driving forces of innovation.
This hackathon was part of the Gomarket Entrepreneurial Days Series 2024, a series of events that plays a key role in strengthening the Tunisian entrepreneurial ecosystem by emphasizing innovation, inclusion & collaboration for sustainable impact.
The two-day hackathon focused on developing concrete solutions for mobility & inclusion, under one mission: making public spaces more accessible to people with disabilities.
The event featured Paralympic champions as speakers. These elite athletes, who have navigated barriers throughout their careers, provided participants with deep insights into the real needs of people with disabilities, ensuring that solutions developed would address genuine pain points rather than perceived problems.
Teams worked under the guidance of expert mentors who shared their personal experiences & insights, adding an authentic perspective that elevated the quality of solutions developed.
& for the first time, participants with disabilities took part in the entire 48-hour hackathon experience, challenging assumptions & showcasing that intensive innovation can be reimagined to welcome every voice. The hackathon became a space of empowerment, inclusion & cocreation, proving that accessibility in tech events isn’t just possible.. it’s transformative.
HackAccessibility was not just a competition, it was a symbol of possibility & transformation. HawKar teams were on-site to support participants & presented a preview prototype of our upcoming assisted wheelchair kit EYAS: a mobility solution engineered to enhance autonomy & redefine freedom for users.
Celebrating Innovation That Matters
The event concluded with the announcement of 3 winning projects that exemplify the power of inclusive innovation:
Universal Accessibility Award: CoMirror
A specialized psychological & pedagogical integration platform for students with disabilities, their parents & their teachers. This comprehensive solution addresses the educational ecosystem holistically, ensuring that inclusion happens at every level of the learning experience.
Autonomy & Inclusion Award: RISE CHAIR
A mechanical auxiliary adapted for wheelchair users, which allows them to go up & down any staircase & move freely. This innovation directly tackles one of the most fundamental mobility barriers, offering unprecedented independence to wheelchair users.
Social Innovation Award: Café Culturel الكلمة (Al Kalima)
A social inclusion space, accessible to people with reduced mobility & carriers of other types of disabilities, not only through its adapted architecture, but also through its online platform that allows booking online access to live sessions, booking to access events & shows in person. This project brilliantly combines physical accessibility with digital inclusion, creating a truly comprehensive cultural hub.
Beyond Competition: A Movement for Change
The hackathon demonstrated that when we design with accessibility in mind from the beginning, we create solutions that benefit everyone.
HackAccessibility 2024 was a milestone in inclusive innovation, reaffirming that with thoughtful design & strategic support, hackathons can be vehicles for real social impact.
HawKar is deeply committed to continuing this momentum, championing mobility solutions that place dignity, autonomy & accessibility at the core of our vision. This event has proven that we are ready to lead the way in inclusive innovation, one breakthrough at a time.
