"Meaningfully active": Overcoming barriers together

The ‘Meaningfully active’ project is focussing on a highly topical social issue: promoting physical activity among older people with visual impairments or blindness. The aim is to develop technical assistance systems that help this target group to move around safely and enjoyably - despite age-related or illness-related vision loss.

The participatory research approach forms the basis of the project. Innovative solutions are developed in close cooperation with 4 partner schools in Vienna and Upper Austria as well as organisations representing the interests of those affected. The pupils first go through a sensitisation phase in which they get to know and experience the reality of life for visually impaired people: e.g. through age simulations with special suits or perception training sessions that appeal to and promote various senses. The young people are then supported by the research team from the University of Vienna in developing the first prototypes of assistance systems that enable or facilitate physical activity.

The project is not just about the inclusion of older people with visual impairments, but also about their social environment, e.g. relatives, friends and carers. The aim is to find new ways of overcoming existing barriers and being able to engage in physical activity together. The Citizen Science project thus impressively demonstrates how technical innovation can be used to find solutions to social challenges and allow young people to participate.

More information about the project “Meaningfully active”