Simply Open Awards 2024
Recognising and sharing practical, simple life hacks across the disability community.
Simply Open Awards Winners Announced - IDPWD 2023 - YouTube
Simply Open Awards Winners Announced - IDPWD 2023
Do you have a life hack that has helped you overcome some of the barriers or exclusion you face? Would you like to help other people do the same? If so, join many others in the disability community to share your ideas and learn from others, and you could win up to £1,000.
Global sponsors for 2024
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Email – contact@openinclusion.com
Applications will open soon
View some example solutions from 2022 and 2023
Watch Debbie's solution
Lifting magnet solution for limited mobility and dexterity
Watch Stephanie's solution
Hairband hack for individuals who have sight loss
Watch Luke's solution
Communication solution for ADHD
What are the Simply Open Awards?
Simply Open Awards - what we are looking for
We have created an awards programme to bring attention to the solutions that disabled people, and the people in their lives, hack and use.
To apply, you need to record and send up to a 2-minute video* that shows a hack you use to make life with a disability better.
It doesn’t matter how large or small your solution is: if you know it makes a difference, we want you to tell us about it.
*If recording a video is not accessible to you, we do allow other formats such as photos, supporting word documents or audio files.
In your application, explain the problem that you are solving, and how your solution helps.
Maybe your solution helps you, or someone in your life, to be more independent, or to be more comfortable, or to feel happier. Explain how!
Applications will open soon
Eligibility, timelines, categories and prizes
Are you eligible to apply for awards?
Please apply if:
- You have a disability or specific access needs; OR
- You are a carer, friend, colleague, teacher, or family member of someone with disability or access needs.
And you live in one of the following regions:
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
- United States
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
Prizes
We will have prizes of £2,250 per region, a community award of £1,250 and 1 £250 spot prize = £15,000 in total.
- 1st– £1,000
- 2nd– £750
- 3rd– £500
In addition, our DPO sponsor will award a spot prize of £250 for the most creatively presented application.
Become a Community Partner for our awards?
If you have a community that might be interested in taking part and you want to help spread the word about these awards to your community. Please contact us on: simplyopenawards@openinclusion.com
To support our Community Partners. We have 1 additional prize to award one organisation that encourages their members to submit the most significant number of solutions to the Simply Open Awards.
1st – £1,250
Will you go to Zero Project 2025, at the UN in Vienna
The Simply Open Awards is part of a global initiative called Global Discovery Awards, in partnership with Enable India, EI Labs, Enable Me and Billion Strong.
Through the Discovery Awards global partnership, other countries are running similar awards programmes in their regions.
Winners from each country will be put forward to a judging panel as part of the Global Discovery Awards in December 2023. Overall, two global winners will be selected and have the opportunity to present their solutions in front of world leaders at the Zero Project Conference at the United Nations in Vienna, in February 2024. Trip expenses will be covered by the global sponsor, Zero Project.
Join our Open Inclusion Community and socials
Would you like to share the opportunity to bring together a great selection of practical solutions that we can all learn from? Together we will celebrate the creativity across the community.