Digital does not automatically mean accessible

In an increasingly digital world, it is often overlooked that it is not accessible to everyone. Many people with disabilities are excluded when applications are not designed to meet diverse needs. This is exactly where Independo GmbH comes in. Founded in 2023, the company develops symbol-based apps for people who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), with the aim of enabling independence, participation, and true digital inclusion in everyday life.

The team around founders Julia Kruselburger, Konstantin Strümpf, Michael Höchtl, and Daniel Harringer is driven by the idea of true independence and by making the digital space accessible to people who read in images or need visual support. Their target group includes people for whom AAC helps improve communication or structure everyday life.

Inclusion through orientation and exchange

The apps translate text into pictograms, can be customized individually (for example in terms of colors, time representations, or speech output), and are designed for all age groups. At the heart of the offering is currently the Independo Calendar. Available as an iOS app, Android app, and browser version, it represents appointments primarily through symbols or personal photos rather than text. This makes it clear what is happening, when, and with whom. Users tend to remember appointments better, and everyday life becomes more structured.

Past events can also be rated with emojis and enriched with photos, videos, audio recordings, or short texts, creating a personal documentation of daily life. Many users share the calendar with their environment: thanks to easy synchronization with common applications such as Google Calendar—and in the future also Microsoft Outlook or iCal—as well as background translation from symbols to text and vice versa, everyone can choose the representation that works best for them.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Visual support is so effective because people process information in different ways. Someone who does not know the word “apple,” for example, can usually understand it better when the fruit is shown visually. Independo uses, among other things, METACOM symbols—a system with more than 17,000 clear and simple pictograms. “They were originally developed by German graphic designer Annette Kitzinger for her daughter. Today, they are indispensable in the AAC world,” says Julia.

Especially in inclusive classrooms, day programs, or workshops, the calendar app is particularly helpful, as it allows everyone involved to work with the same system—regardless of their reading and writing skills.

Diary in the pilot phase

The Independo Diary has recently been added to the young company’s portfolio. The new app is designed to enable people with disabilities to document their participation and development goals, activities, and progress independently. Entries can capture what was done and what made a particular day special; activities can also be directly linked to goals, making it visible what is being worked on. Through a documentation portal, support staff can maintain an overview, creating a shared basis for dialogue on equal footing. The first pilot phase is currently underway, and all available spots have already been filled.

Accessibility creates opportunities

In addition to product development, Independo also offers consulting services and supports institutions in developing inclusive software and digital solutions. Through workshops, the team shares knowledge on co-design and accessibility, demonstrating how inclusion can be integrated from the very beginning.

Overall, Julia sees a significant need for improvement in this area: “Accessibility is still perceived by many companies and developers as a burden—too expensive, too complex, too cumbersome.” Yet it is not only a social responsibility for everyone building the technologies of tomorrow, but also a clear economic opportunity. Those who think accessibly can position themselves more broadly and reach more people.

Short interview with Julia Kruselburger

How did you personally become involved with accessibility and inclusion?

I first encountered the topic at the age of six, when I attended inclusive summer camps with children with and without disabilities. Since then, the topic has accompanied me again and again—both in projects I organized myself and during my time at university.

How does Independo view artificial intelligence and personalized learning?

We are already using artificial intelligence in our products and are currently running a major research project together with institutions for people with disabilities, such as the Austrian Disability Council. In this project, we are exploring how AI can be used to create even more opportunities for users of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). In general, my view on AI is: “Yes—but.” I do believe it opens up many new possibilities, but only if we combine artificial intelligence with emotional intelligence and use it in an ethically responsible and well-considered way.

Will there be further developments of the calendar app?

The calendar app is only the first step. Our larger goal is for every app available on a smartphone to also be accessible via AAC. Because only when people have the same opportunities can inclusion and self-efficacy truly succeed.