Boost AI² Inclusion

The NEVI-EVY project – the NEETcraft initiative: Innovation to empower young people with disabilities – held an online webinar entitled ‘Boost AI² Inclusion’ on 10 September 2026. The session focused on analysing the links between artificial intelligence, digital skills, accessibility and social inclusion.

During the webinar, participants examined how new technologies can contribute to creating more inclusive opportunities, particularly for young people and those with disabilities. At the same time, they highlighted the barriers that may arise when accessibility and diversity are not adequately taken into account in technological development and digital environments.

Professor Maria Potes Barbas presented a perspective on the opportunities that artificial intelligence and digital technologies can offer in terms of more inclusive education and social participation.

Digitalisation can create new opportunities for learning, participation, communication and employment. At the same time, people facing accessibility barriers or with limited access to digital skills and technologies are at risk of being left behind.

This is of particular significance for NEVI-EVY’s work, which focuses on empowering young people with disabilities and facilitating their path to social participation and decent employment.

“Boost AI² Inclusion” will provide a space to reflect on questions such as:

• How can Artificial Intelligence contribute to greater social and educational inclusion?
• What role does digital literacy play in ensuring equitable access to emerging technologies?
• How can accessibility and universal design be incorporated into AI-supported environments?
• What opportunities can AI create for young persons with disabilities?
• What new risks or barriers could emerge from the increasing use of AI?
• How can educators, researchers, organisations and policymakers contribute to a more inclusive digital transformation?
• The session aims not only to explore technological innovation, but also to place people, accessibility and equal participation at the centre of that innovation.

The NEVI-EVY project aims to improve opportunities for young people with disabilities by exploring innovative approaches to empowerment, skills development, participation and integration into the labour market. In this context, artificial intelligence and digital technologies represent an important area for consideration. Their significance for social inclusion will ultimately depend not only on what the technology is capable of, but also on how it is designed, implemented and made accessible to people with different abilities, needs and life circumstances.