The Social Participation and Inclusive Cities (Participation sociale et villes inclusives - PSVI) research team is an interdisciplinary, collaborative research group dedicated to improving accessibility, mobility, and social participation for people with disabilities in urban environments.

Mission and main objectives

• Improve access for people with disabilities to all aspects of urban life (built environment, communications, services, recreation, mobility, etc.).
• Empower these individuals and facilitate their full participation in social life.
• Produce applicable knowledge and innovations in collaboration with partners from various sectors (community, municipal, government, and academic).
• Facilitate the transfer and mobilization of knowledge to support concrete changes in practices, policies, and the urban environment.

A collaborative approach
PSVI operates using a participatory action research approach. Researchers, students, people with disabilities, and partners in the field co-create research projects. This approach combines scientific knowledge and experiential knowledge to meet the real needs of communities and promote the adoption of proposed solutions.

Composition and expertise
The team brings together approximately 40 permanent members from academic, community, public, and private sectors, as well as several occasional collaborators, including graduate students working on projects related to accessibility, mobility, inclusive design, etc.