The Second Innovate for Disability Hackathon

We live in a rapidly evolving technological era where new advancements are constantly emerging to transform the way we live, work, and interact with the world. However, despite these advancements, many persons with disabilities still face significant barriers that prevent them from accessing and benefiting from technology. From navigating inaccessible websites and mobile applications to operating assistive devices, individuals with disabilities face unique challenges that limit their full participation in society.

To address these challenges, we are organizing the second Innovate for Disability Hackathon, an event that aims to harness the creativity and innovation of undergraduate university students to develop technological solutions that can empower persons with disabilities and improve their quality of life. During this 5-day hackathon held at Makerere University, students from various disciplines, including engineering, computer science, and design, will collaborate to develop solutions that address specific challenges faced by persons with disabilities. The event will provide an opportunity for students to gain practical experience in developing assistive technologies while also promoting inclusion and accessibility for persons with disabilities.

We believe that technology can be a powerful tool to break down barriers and create a more inclusive and accessible society for all. By bringing together students, government institutions, organizations for persons with disabilities (OPDs), NGOs, and telecommunication companies, we hope to foster collaboration and create a network of innovators who are committed to promoting accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities. Through the Innovate for Disability Hackathon, we aim to inspire a new generation of innovators and advocates who will work towards building a more inclusive and accessible world for persons with disabilities.

Hackathon Objectives 

The primary objective of this hackathon is “to develop technology-based solutions that can help persons with disabilities overcome some of the challenges they face on a daily basis” We believe that by leveraging the creativity and innovation of young minds, we can develop innovative solutions that can make a real difference in the lives of persons with disabilities.

The specific Objectives of this Hackathon include;

1. To encourage development of Innovations targeted to improving the livelihoods of persons with disabilities.
2. To drive the attention of government Funders towards Innovations that promote inclusivity of persons with Disabilities in the new digital knowledge-based economy.
3. To create a pool of creative innovations that can be built on to improve lives of persons with disabilities.

Participants

The participants of this hackathon will be university students from different disciplines such as engineering, computer science, and design. We believe that by bringing together students from different backgrounds, we can foster collaboration and innovation that can lead to ground-breaking solutions.

Themes

The themes of the hackathon will revolve around the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in different aspects of life, such as.

1. Education
2. Employment
3. Transportation
4. social inclusion.
5. Health
6. Financial services

Participants will be encouraged to develop solutions that can address challenges in the above domains by leveraging technology such as mobile apps, wearables, and IoT devices.

Expected outcomes.

At the end of the hackathon, we expect to have several innovative solutions that can improve the lives of persons with disabilities. These solutions will be assessed by a panel of judges, and the winning solutions will be selected based on their potential impact, scalability, and feasibility of implementation. The winning teams will receive prizes, mentorship, and support to help them further develop their solutions and bring them to market.

Prizes

Cash Prizes

Three winners will be given Cash Prizes amount which will be agreed upon at the time of the hackathon.

Certificates

Apart from the main prizes, every participant will receive a certificate acknowledging their participation and thanking them for their contribution. The certificate will mention the rank of the top 3 teams and the top 3 all-student teams.

Incubation of their Ideas

Creative ideas will be identified and connected to mentors for mentorship and incubation of their ideas.