Introduction "Not That Kind of Prototype Hackathon

On 11/17/2023, the Gunda Werner Institute invites disabled and non-disabled participants to a hackathon to explore the following questions:

What technologies do we as disabled people want to make our lives easier and more joyful in an ableist world? How can we intervene in barriers with our own hacks, be anti-ableist? Can the internet be a place of Care? Who has access to technologies?

Access to digital technologies has become a basic need in our democratic society. Obtaining information, forming opinions, and even everyday important reproductive tasks such as keeping track of one's bank account or uploading a sick note to the health insurance app are examples of the omnipresence of the digital as a new social infrastructure.

People with disabilities have specific access to the digital space in the form of mobile devices or smart prostheses. However, they are not always able to use this, as websites do not have captions, for example, or have not been translated into easy language. Therefore, questions about access are becoming increasingly important. At the same time, disabled people are experts at hacking their environments to gain access. Hacking here doesn't necessarily mean programming, but also: rebuilding and modifying something, raising awareness for barriers, making something on their own that would otherwise be very expensive.

The Gunda Werner Institute's "Not that Kind of Prototype Hackathon" will take place in digital form on the platform Zoom. Three specific topics will be addressed in three rooms. Participants can register for one room at a time:

• DISCO (Disabled Community) Prototype: Here, disabled people will work on personal hacks for their own benefit, inspired by our previously published hacking series. This workshop is only open to disabled people.
• Anti-Ableist Technologies: Here, disabled people work on hacks for political change within digital policy. How can technologies become not just accessible, but anti-ableist? This space is only open to disabled people.
• Unlearning Techno Ableism: This is about making non-disabled people aware of specific forms of ableism in the digital space (Technoableism). This space is open to all people.

No programming skills are required and besides scheduled breaks, one can take a break whenever desired.The entire hackathon will be held online. We will send a package of materials to play with and prototype during the hackathon.

The workshops will be led by the artist Duo Meltionary.

The hackathon will be held in German and English. For the introductory event, there will be a translation from English to German in spoken language. Automated subtitles are available on Zoom. In the registration form, please feel free to let us know of any additional access needs, and we will do our best to provide access.

contact:
Katharina Klappheck, Senior Programme Officer Feminist Digital Politics
M Katharina.Klappheck@boell.de

The hackathon is organized by Katharina Klappheck and MELT (Ren Loren Britton & Iz Paehr).

» Online participation in ZOOM

You can use either the Zoom Client software or the app. If you are using either the Chrome or Edge browsers you will be able to participate directly via the access link. For more information on how to use Zoom, click here.
Please make sure that you are using the latest version of Zoom so that you have the necessary settings. You will need a microphone and possibly a camera for events with audience participation.
The Heinrich Böll Foundation is not liable for issues arising from the use of Zoom software. Zoom's current privacy policy can be found here.