Post conference update February 29, 2024:

A World with Zero Barriers

What would it be like in a world with zero barriers for people with disabilities? Last week, we were humbled to be invited to join 1,000 other like-minded participants from more than 100 countries at the Zero Project Conference held in the United Nations office in Vienna, Austria. We participated in a fast-paced pitch about the My STEM Adventure app (our pitch starts at around the 45-minute mark) that aims to make learning accessible and joyful every day, everywhere, and for everyone. We also learned from others about how they took action within their sphere of influence to eradicate barriers for people with disabilities. Perhaps, the most important take-home message was that we need to continue to intentionally center people with disabilities in the work that we do. The resounding voices of youths with intellectual disabilities was clear: Inclusive education should be a given for all children, not just some. Will you join us in creating a world with zero barriers for all young children with disabilities?
Megan Vinh (pictured at left below) & Chih-Ing Lim (pictured at right below), STEMIE Co-Directors

FPG's Lim and Vinh to speak at the Zero Project Conference in Vienna

Original publication date: January 18, 2024

Two senior technical assistance specialists from the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG) have been invited to speak at the Zero Project Conference held at the United Nations Offices in Vienna, Austria. The 2024 event, which takes place February 21 through February 23, is a global gathering of innovators within the disability inclusion space. This year’s conference is centered around the topics of inclusive education and ICT. Approximately 1,000 people from 100 countries are invited to attend the annual conference—and this year FPG’s Chih-Ing Lim, PhD, and Megan Vinh, PhD, will be among them.

Lim, a senior technical assistance specialist, is co-director of the STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education Center (STEMIE), an OSEP-funded national center to build knowledge on early STEM learning for children especially those with disabilities. She also leads Supporting Change and Reform in Preservice Teaching in North Carolina (SCRIPT-NC), where she works with community college faculty in North Carolina to better prepare early childhood professionals to serve children with disabilities and who are from families of culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

Vinh, also a senior technical assistance specialist and co-director of STEMIE, leads projects aimed at increasing equity and inclusion in early care and education systems. She is also co-director of FPG’s Early Childhood Technical Assistance (ECTA) Center.

Lim and Vinh are both thrilled and honored to be speaking at the invite-only event during a session titled, Innovation Pitches: Promising tech-innovations and impact investors, where they will talk about STEMIE and an app they launched last year.

“We are honored to be invited to share the great work of STEMIE on an international stage and to learn about the great work of others committed to promoting inclusion and belonging for young children with disabilities,” says Vinh.

The Zero Project Conference will be live streamed on the Zero Project YouTube channel―including Lim’s and Vinh’s session on Thursday, February 22, which begins at 3pm (GMT+1 in Vienna | 9am EST).

“We are so proud of our My STEM Adventure app and are excited for this opportunity to showcase it. This born-accessible app reflects many of STEMIE's values. This includes that when supported, families and other caregivers can facilitate joyful STEM learning within everyday routines and activities and that children with disabilities can engage in STEM learning opportunities."