Promoting more inclusive and accesible participation in Barcelona with the iDEM App.
08/06/2026 María Pérez
Making information clear and accessible is essential to ensuring that everyone can take an active part in society. In Barcelona, iDEM has been working with TEB to develop and validate new tools that make content easier to understand and support more inclusive citizen participation.
An app to make information easier to understand
iDEM aims to help people better understand complex texts and information, while making it easier for everyone to express their views and participate actively in society. To achieve this, the project has developed a mobile app that transforms difficult texts into content that is easier to understand.
TEB’s accessibility team has taken part in several co-creation and validation sessions, bringing in expertise in cognitive accessibility and the lived experience of people with intellectual disabilities. These sessions provided an opportunity to test the app, gather feedback and reflect collectively on issues related to community life, mobility and the right to participate in decision-making.
The activities took place both at TEB’s premises and in different municipal venues in Barcelona. These sessions brought together people from a wide range of backgrounds, including older people, people with migrant backgrounds and groups who experience difficulties with reading comprehension. This created a rich space for dialogue that reflected the social diversity of the city.
The project also placed strong emphasis on ensuring that participation was safe and accessible for everyone. Materials were adapted into Easy Read format, and different forms of support were provided so that each person could participate according to their needs.
A shared commitment to accessibility
The initiative is led by Pompeu Fabra University in collaboration with Nexus, MAC, the Barcelona Ombudsperson’s Office, the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities and Colectic, with support from the European Union.
Through collaborations such as the one with TEB, iDEM continues to work towards a more inclusive society where everyone can understand information, make their voice heard and participate fully in the community.
