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Who we are:

We are a class of 33 students preparing a bilingual French/English executive MBA at ESSEC, Paris.

Located in Paris/La Défense, ESSEC is one of Europe’s top business schools. ESSEC is accredited by the AACSB and offers a wide range of programs, including the executive MBA which spans over a two year period and is aimed at employed executives with between 7 and 12 years of professional experience. www.essec.fr/eme/us/emba/index.html

Our Class Project

Within the frame of our MBA curriculum, we are putting together a “Class Project” which will involve all 33 students.

The year 2003 being the “European Year for Handicapped people,” the class of 2003B has chosen to inventory and publish a selection of “the best European practices” which facilitate the accessibility and mobility of individuals in wheelchairs. (I.e. public and private initiatives and services, political and legal actions, physical accessibility in general, and any original concepts)

By publishing these “best practices,” we intend to encourage their cross-implementation throughout The European Union.

“Mobile-en-Ville” (Mobile in the City)

We are developing this project in cooperation with “Mobile-en-Ville,” a non-profit association incorporated in Paris in 1998. “Mobile-en-Ville” focuses on facilitating urban accessibility for any person on wheels and particularly for individuals in wheelchairs.

The association counts 100 members. Its scope of action includes:
-Research on accessibility of transportation, businesses, and sidewalks
-The raising of public awareness insomuch as accessibility issues are concerned
-Organization of special events which mix handicapped and non-handicapped individuals (“Roller-touring:” roller-bladers pushing wheelchairs through the city). www.mobile-en-ville.asso.fr/

What are we looking for?

We are vigorously seeking exemplary practices in Europe which facilitate the mobility of individuals in wheelchairs. For instance: original public service concepts, technical innovations, milestone legislation to be duplicated and individual initiatives (i.e.: landmark urban designs, a city accessibility map on a mobile phone, etc…)

We are currently attempting to contact associations, specialized journalists, and conducting research on the Internet in order to fuel the project. This “collection phase” is being conducted by the entire class broken down into 5 sub-groups of 6 or 7 people. We are hoping to conclude the collection phase by the end of January.

Next Steps

At the end of January, we should be able to collectively select the very best practices that have been observed throughout a portfolio of European cities.

February-March: At this stage, exemplary projects which have been retained will be further documented through: investigations, documentaries, reports, statements or recommendations from the original project’s initiator, in the hope that the project can be duplicated elsewhere in Europe.

It is important to go beyond the project’s description in order to gather valuable advice, potential assistance, suggested methodology, description of the difficulties encountered in the past and finally traps to be avoided when attempting to clone the project.

March-June: These months will be characterized by active public relations and communication activities. A dedicated web site will present the retained selection of best practices and will provide a full array of tools, information, advice, and useful contacts while sharing testimonials.

The web site will provide:
-A source of ideas supporting mobility and accessibility which can be used by governments, collectivities, non-profit organizations, foundations, associations or any one who wishes to carry-out similar projects.
-A concentration of documented quality projects
-An exchange forum between project initiators, corporate sponsors, foundations, associations, government actors and anyone intending to duplicate a successful project

The publication of the retained project and the official web site launching will take place in november 2003 at the the mayors' and elected officials convention in Paris. A strong PR and communications program will reinforce this event and will emphasize successful projects.

For more info: carl@europeonwheels.net