44 million people in the EU have disabilities and more than half of them are out of work. Some countries like Luxembourg, where the difference in the employment rate between disabled and non-disabled people is insignificant, are doing better than others where this rate can reach up to 40%.

Fostering employment for people with disabilities requires multi-faceted approaches ranging from public policies, such as those presented by Corinne Cahen, Luxembourg’s Minister for the Family and Integration, and Isabelle Schlesser, Director of ADEM, to innovative solutions proposed by three of the winners of the 2015 Social Innovation Tournament, Koiki, BLITAB and Marioway.

Aitor Ojanguren described how Koiki offers last mile home delivery services provided by handicapped people in three Spanish cities, Madrid, Oviedo and now Barcelona. Slavi Slavev showed how BLITAB, the first tablet for blind and visually impaired people, will allow them to learn, work and play with a Braille digital device which is faster, better and cheaper than the current mechanical machines. BLITAB recently won the Global Social Venture competition and is expected to go into production by the end of the year. Flaviano Tarducci explained how Marioway, aims to change the wheelchair, an icon of disability, into a vertical, ergonomic and stylish device.

Vincent Ferry gave a moving and uplifting account of an entrepreneur who became tetraplegic in 2008 and carried on as the CEO of the French company Clair de Lorraine, succeeding in developing his company while learning to delegate and manage differently and more efficiently.