Disability and Accessibility in Social Services Award
This award recognises a public authority or social services provider that has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing accessibility, inclusion, and quality of life for people with disabilities. It honours initiatives that break down barriers, promote community and independent living, and ensure equal access to social services for individuals with disabilities.
Examples of key areas in disability and accessibility in social services:
- Inclusive and Accessible Social Services – Ensuring that all public services, from healthcare to housing, are designed to be fully accessible and responsive to the needs of people with disabilities.
- Independent Living and Community Support – Expanding access to personal assistance, home adaptations and community-based care, reducing reliance on residential care.
- Education and Early Intervention – Ensuring children and young people with disabilities receive inclusive education and early support services to enhance their opportunities.
- Workforce Development and Disability-Inclusive Employment – Supporting job opportunities for people with disabilities through training, workplace accommodations, and inclusive hiring policies.
- Digital and Technological Accessibility – Leveraging assistive technology, AI, and digital solutions to enhance accessibility and improve service delivery.
Special consideration is given to initiatives that:
- Adopt an innovative approach to improving accessibility and disability inclusion in social services.
- Empower individuals with disabilities, ensuring their voices are heard in service design, delivery and assessment.
- Demonstrate measurable impact, showing how services have improved the quality of life, autonomy, and inclusion of people with disabilities.
- Promote cross-sector collaboration, integrating disability-inclusive policies across social care, health, education, and employment sectors.
- Are scalable and transferable, offering models that can inspire similar policies and practices across Europe.
Disability and Accessibility in Social Services Award 2025 Nominees
Title: “Accessible Participant Observation to Assess Satisfaction in Social Care Centres”
Organisation: Regional Government of Madrid - Department of Social Services and Social Integration, Spain
More information here: http://www.madrid.org/
Title: “Leaping Together”
Organisation: Fuenlabrada City Council, Spain
More information here: https://www.ayto-fuenlabrada.es/
Title: “Development of Community-Based Social Service Infrastructure in Riga”
Organisation: Riga City Council - Department for Welfare, Latvia
More information here: http://www.ld.riga.lv/
Title: “INLAV – Integrated Job Support for Individuals with Mental Health Disabilities”
Organisation: Special Public Company "Consortile Comuni Insieme per lo Sviluppo Sociale" through the Employment Integration Unit (NIL), Italy
More information here: https://www.comuni-insieme.mi.it/
Title: “Sonia Tanti Independent Living Centre (STILC) – Adaptive Driving Clinic”
Organisation: Agenzija Sapport, Malta
More information here: https://sapport.gov.mt/services/sonia-tanti-independent-living-centre-stilc/
Title: “Active Every Day”
Organisation: City of Warsaw, Poland
More information here: https://en.um.warszawa.pl/
Title: “The Public Early Care Service of Castilla y León”
Organisation: Regional Government of Castilla y Leon - Department for Social Services, Spain
More information here: http://www.serviciossociales.jcyl.es/
Title: “Enhancing Cognitive Growth through Sensory and Biofeedback Therapy”
Organisation: General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection Arad (DGASPC Arad), Romania
More information here: https://www.dgaspc-arad.ro/
Registrations to attend the 2025 ESSA Ceremony are now open, and voting will begin in October.
