Nicosia, Cyprus – 10 September 2025 – The 18th AAATE (Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe) Conference kicked off in Nicosia, bringing together 350 delegates from 43 countries to discuss “Technology for Inclusion and Participation for All: Recent Achievements and Future Directions.”

Conference Overview

Hosted by the European University Cyprus from 10-12 September, the conference marks three decades of AAATE’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility. Conference Chair Katerina Mavrou emphasized the organization’s role as a platform for global stakeholders to collaborate and find practical solutions for people with disabilities.

AAATE President Pedro Encarnação noted the significant participation and scientific contributions: 224 submissions to the Research Strand, of which 107 were accepted as full papers, published in the Springer Proceedings, and 78 contributions are featured in the Short Papers Collection volume edited by the European University Cyprus.

A special issue of the Technology & Disability Journal commemorating AAATE’s 30-year milestone was published prior to the conference and features nine review papers providing insights into current achievements in assistive technology and future directions. 

Keynote on Independent Living and Technology

Kamil Goungor, Policy and Movement Support Officer for the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), delivered the keynote address on “The Role of Assistive Technology in the Future of Independent Living.” Kamil outlined the fundamental principle that independent living is a human right, defined as having complete control over one’s life while receiving appropriate support when needed.

He highlighted 12 basic pillars of independent living, including accessibility, transport, technical aids, housing, personal assistance, education, income, employment, information, advocacy, and healthcare. ENIL’s expanded framework includes access to supported decision-making, digital technology, legal aid, and transition support services. 

Kamil talked about the crucial role of AT in his life and addressed both achievements and ongoing barriers. Notable advances include smart devices, AI assistants, improved mobility aids, and enhanced communication tools. However, significant challenges remain, including affordability, accessibility gaps, design processes that lack user input, digital exclusion, and ethical considerations. And while significant progress has been made over the past two decades in making environments more accessible through technology, acceleration of these developments is needed rather than waiting for gradual change.

He concluded that the disability community’s call for “Nothing about us without us.” should be rather “Nothing without us.” as everything is also about people with disabilities, they are people as any other.

It is important to align all policies with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, with an emphasis on support and tools for autonomous decision-making, and recognition that assistive technology represents freedom, dignity, and personal choice rather than merely technological solutions.

Scientific track, policy and educational sessions, inclusion and innovation forum

This opening session is followed by three days dedicated to exploring all aspects of “Technology for Inclusion and Participation for All” – from a scientific perspective, exploring recent research results and project outcomes, to educational sessions presenting tools and techniques in assistive and accessible technologies, policy sessions inviting exchange of practitioners and policy makers on necessary political support as well as the innovation area that showcases latest advances and creative ideas to solve some of our everyday problems. 

For all those who want to follow some of the discussions, but cannot be here in person, have a look at @aaate-net.bsky.social and AAATE’s LinkedIn page for live updates. 

About AAATE 

AAATE is the Association for the Advancemenet of Assistive Technology in Europe. We envision an inclusive society where assistive and accessible mainstream technologies and universally designed products and services have levelled differences between people in terms of access to opportunities to live the lives they desire. AAATE wants to be an active player and interdisciplinary collaborative platform uniting organisations and individuals that want to collaborate in making that vision come true.

More information about AAATE: https://aaate.net

More information about #AAATE2025: https://aaate2025.eu

Special Issue: 30 Years of AAATE: Insights into the State of the Art in Assistive Technology, https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/tada/37/3?publicationCode=tada