مشارکت توانمند کاربران دارای معلولیت در پروژه های "تحقیق و توسعه"

This paper provides an introduction to empowered participation of users with disabilities in research and development (R&D). It is based on the experiences of the European project FORTUNE (Bühler, 2000). Introductory experiences about the state of the art of disabled user involvement in European R & D are reported. The value of participation of users with disabilities is discussed. An overview of the FORTUNE curriculum and training is provided. The FORTUNE concept of user participation in projects is introduced as a reference model for participation of users with disabilities, followed by a scheme of criteria for the assessment of user participation as a practical tool. A brief overview of methodologies for user participation and potential organizational frameworks is presented.

A validation inventory of European R&D programmes underpinned the bene"t of user participation for R&D. However, the investigation of validation practice in the European 3rd Framework Programme showed that the knowledge and practice of structured user involvement in R&D is generally low. The evaluation board and committee of the TIDE (Technology Initiative for Disabled and Elderly) pilot phase realized that &&the most successful projects had the enthusiastic and active involvement of established, formal user organisations'' (European Commission, 1994a).