Vodafone has announced a new awards programme that rewards companies working to make IT more accessible to people with disabilities.
The Vodafone Foundation Smart Accessibility Awards is co-organised by Vodafone with AGE Platform Europe, the European network of around 160 organisations of and for people aged over 50, and the European Disability Forum (EDF), the NGO that represents the interests of 80 million Europeans with disabilities.
The competition is free to enter. It will give awards to the best Android 2.2 app in four categories:
- Social participation: applications that help users to become more involved in society and help them benefit from using new technologies, whatever their age and/or capacity.
- Independent living: refers to applications that help users with everyday tasks such as washing or opening a door easily and safely so that they can live more independently.
- Mobility: refers to applications that enable users to travel freely and safely. It also refers to the use of GPS and locations apps which can help guide people in unfamiliar places.
- Wellbeing: refers to applications that improve the users health and overall feeling of wellbeing.
Entrants compete for a share of a €200,000 (£173,500) prize fund. 
To submit an entry, head here. You can also visit the programmes Facebook page for more information.
