EPF is excited to endorse the Nicosia Declaration, “From Margins to Mainstream: Integrating Accessibility and Universal Design Across Higher Education Curricula.” Adopted in Nicosia on 10 September 2025, this declaration calls for a structural shift in higher education to ensure that accessibility, universal design, and assistive technology are no longer peripheral or optional considerations, but central components of inclusive learning and professional development.

The Declaration was derived from the work of the ATHENA Project, co-funded by the European Union, and coordinated by the European Disability Forum (Belgium)

The Nicosia Declaration urges higher education institutions, policymakers, and stakeholders to:

  • Recognise accessibility, universal design and assistive technology as rights-based imperatives.

  • Reform national and institutional policy frameworks to include mandatory training on integrating accessibility and universal design in the curricula.

  • Revise accreditation and quality assurance standards to require the integration of accessibility and universal design, curriculum development, course delivery, assessment, and learning outcomes across all programmes.

  • Promote interdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration among universities, user organizations, professional bodies, and accessibility experts.

  • Ensure participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in all processes related to curriculum design, implementation, and evaluation.

  • Develop and support communities of practice, staff development programmes, and international mobility schemes that advance consideration of accessibility and universal design in Higher Education curricula across disciplines.

  • Promote the establishment of national advisory bodies on accessibility and universal design in Higher Education.

  • Support innovation in technologies that align with universal design principles.

  • Raise public awareness and celebrate excellence in accessible societies.

  • Foster a cultural shift within higher education institutions toward valuing diversity, dismantling ableist assumptions, and advancing justice for all.

By embedding these principles, the Declaration contributes to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the European Accessibility Act, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At EPF, we fully support this initiative. It aligns strongly with our work in the InclusiveSpaces project, which aims to make urban spaces work for everyone by engaging persons with disabilities and older people in co-design processes, embedding universal design, and linking inclusiveness with climate-friendly practices. Through InclusiveSpaces, EPF contributes to the project by actively engaging in co-design activities, supporting initial research, and contributing to stakeholder engagement. Throughout the project, EPF provides insights from the passenger perspective, assists in policy recommendations, and contributes to dissemination efforts, ensuring that project outcomes effectively address mobility and accessibility challenges across Europe, in line with the principles of the Nicosia Declaration.

EPF remains committed to promoting accessibility, inclusiveness, and universal design, from mobility systems to learning environments, ensuring that no one is left behind.