KIDaS Strategy Workshop on the Future of Digital Disability Support

On 1 June 2026, researchers from the Chair of Information Systems at the University of Kassel, led by Prof. Dr. Leimeister, gathered with experts from the Landeswohlfahrtsverband Hessen (LWV) and two additional project partners for a full-day workshop as part of the KIDaS research project. The question guiding the day was whether and how digital technologies and artificial intelligence can improve disability support services in the future.

The workshop was designed not only to present the current state of the project, but primarily to build a shared understanding of challenges, values, user needs, and requirements for future digital solutions. Drawing on methods from Collaboration Engineering, participants contributed their experience and perspectives from across the many disciplines involved in disability support.

Working groups at the KIDaS strategy workshop

Small group discussion at the KIDaS strategy workshop

The day began with an exercise in building a shared set of values for digital disability support. Participants discussed values such as transparency, trust, accessibility, collaboration, and economic viability, while also examining potential tensions between them. A reference model for coordinating support services, developed before the workshop, was then refined together. Participants mapped challenges onto this model to identify where the system breaks down.

To connect different user perspectives to real situations, participants developed personas and described their life circumstances, support needs, expectations, and points of frustration. The results showed that many challenges cut across groups. They frequently stem from a lack of transparency, unclear guidance, and fragmented coordination processes.

Drawing on the values, challenges, and user needs identified throughout the day, participants then formulated and prioritised concrete requirements for KIDaS and future digital solutions. The most frequently cited were:

Transparent and easily accessible information about services and responsibilities
Clear contact persons and accountabilities across organisational boundaries
Faster decision-making and referral processes
Improved matching between those entitled to support and those providing it
Better networking and use of existing data
Opportunities for feedback and continuous learning
Trustworthy, user-centred digital platforms

A key finding of the workshop was that many challenges trace back to fragmented information structures, distributed responsibilities, and a lack of coordination between the stakeholders involved. Digital platforms can play a meaningful role here by improving transparency, facilitating information exchange, and helping connect people with the right services.

The workshop results provide an important foundation for the next phases of the KIDaS project. Over the coming months, the requirements gathered will be further refined through expert interviews and used to develop initial concepts and prototypes. We would like to thank all participants warmly for their thoughtful discussions, valuable insights, and collaborative spirit.