Zero Project Conference: Paving the Way for Accessible Events

The Zero Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a barrier-free world for individuals with disabilities, celebrated a decade of impactful conferences at the United Nations in Vienna this year. We had a conversation with Zero Project’s Project Manager Maria Chiara Franco to gather first-hand information on what the conference is about, what their experience with b2match was like and what are the plans for the future.

What is the Zero Project?

The Zero Project's mission is to discover and disseminate innovative solutions that enhance the lives and legal rights of people with disabilities globally. Each year, the Zero Project focuses on a different theme, cycling through education, employment, accessibility, and independent living and political participation, while continuously integrating information and communication technology (ICT) due to its rapid advancements. The annual cycle begins with a call for nominations in May, inviting innovative policies and solutions from around the world. These nominations undergo a rigorous selection process, involving peer review and voting by a global network of disability and inclusion experts. The finalists are announced on December 3rd, International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The cycle culminates in the Zero Project Conference held in late February at the United Nations in Vienna. This year's conference saw over 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries, including businesses and grassroots organizations. The conference provided a platform for the finalists to present their projects, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and best practices.

Leveraging b2match for Enhanced Accessibility and Networking

In 2023, the Zero Project introduced the b2match event networking platform to enhance the conference's accessibility and networking capabilities. The platform's accessible design and features were crucial for an event centered on disability and inclusion. In our interview, Maria highlighted that the conference's biggest challenge was ensuring clear communication and a seamless experience for a diverse audience. b2match addressed this by providing an intuitive user interface and robust support for networking.

The success of the platform is in creating valuable connections among attendees. Feedback from participants indicated that the networking opportunities facilitated by b2match were a significant highlight of the event. Maria also emphasized the importance of on-ground support and effective communication to enhance the conference experience further.

Positive Collaboration with b2match

The organizers greatly appreciated the collaboration with b2match, especially the responsiveness and support of our Customer Success Managers.

"Our experience with b2match over the past two years has been great. You're very responsive, and the support we get from you is always positive!" Maria Chiara Franco, Junior Project Manager at Essl Foundation, Zero Project

Maria mentioned that while there was more room for changes and developments in the first year, the need for improvements has decreased as both parties have progressed along the learning and improvement curve.

The platform's backend is easy to use and intuitive, and the front-end user interface is visually appealing and user-friendly. Maria praised the platform's smooth user experience and the company's commitment to accessibility, which is crucial for the Zero Project's needs. She mentioned the informal audits conducted to evaluate the platform's accessibility, which yielded positive feedback. Any identified issues were promptly addressed by the b2match IT team, demonstrating dedication to continuous improvement.

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, the Zero Project aims to strike a balance between increasing platform usage and ensuring a positive experience for users. Continuous improvement in both the b2match event management software and the organizational approach will remain a priority, as the Zero Project continues its mission to promote innovations that break down barriers for people with disabilities worldwide. And b2match will proudly continue to make efforts to help the Zero Project conference remain one of the most prominent accessibility conferences in Europe.