SWICApp
Social Work Inclusive & Communication App: Drawing up criteria for project specifications
Phase 1
Type of project: Exploratory research
Disability concerned: Hearing impairment, Mental disability, Motor disability, Psychic disability
Topics: Digital accessibility, Communication
Status: Completed
This research is part of a project to design a digital solution (application) for communication and support for the Alfaset Foundation, which employs people with disabilities. The aim of this research phase was to set up a collaborative action research process and define the initial overall specifications for the application.
The Alfaset Foundation is located in the canton of Neuchâtel and its main mission is to manage protected workshops in 15 different areas of activity. These workshops are spread over 5 production sites, some of which are integrated directly into the premises of customers such as Felco, Horotec, Nivarox, Philipp Moris and Von Bergen.
This socio-industrial activity employs 250 people, including 50 Socio-Professional Workers (MSPs) and a number of educators. Alfaset employs a total of 550 people with disabilities (mostly part-time) on disability insurance or social assistance.
The diversity of the activities on offer and the fact that they are spread across several sites in the canton of Neuchâtel mean that communication is very difficult from an institutional point of view. In order to maintain a strong link with its beneficiaries, Alfaset is looking for a digital solution that will enable effective communication between all its stakeholders, while respecting the specific needs of its beneficiaries’ disability situations and in line with the support dynamics that need to be strengthened.
The aim of this research was to lay the foundations for the development of a digital solution to strengthen communication, at the service of support. To achieve this, the digital solution had to fit in with the digital ecosystem already in place at Alfaset, with the following objectives:
- Replace the current intranet.
- Create a main channel for internal communication.
- Facilitate communication with beneficiaries.
- Promote the inclusion of employees in the Foundation’s culture.
- Quantify the work of MSPs (and even educators) using a simple, non-time-consuming process.
Within a large-scale institution, putting in place a participative dynamic is a major challenge. We began by carrying out a series of observations in several of the foundation’s workshops. This phase provided a basis for the next, based on real needs. It was on the basis of these that the steering committee – made up of beneficiaries (expertise in use), MSPs and members of management (professional knowledge) and researchers (scientific knowledge) – then drew up the first set of specifications.
Finally, these specifications were reworked in focus groups involving a wider audience of future users. The research is therefore part of a development process that goes beyond the scope of the specifications, helping to bring about lasting changes in relations within Alfaset as part of a more cross-functional approach initiated by the steering committee. This dynamic has proved to be a solid foundation for the genuinely participative and inclusive development that we are aiming for in the remainder of the project.
A response to the innovation booster technology and special needs call for projects was once again sent out in September 2023. This time, the aim is to obtain funding to develop an initial prototype of the application. At the same time, discussions are being held in collaboration with the Haute Ecole de Gestion Arc on the deployment of certain algorithms (AI) within the application itself, which will be useful for monitoring support within the foundation. These discussions will be the focus of an Innosuisse cheque. These two development phases will make it possible to prepare an innovation project, both social and technological, with a view to drawing up an application for more substantial Innosuisse funding.
