Digital Diversity Hub Fundación Integralia DKV (HDD)
People with disabilities have historically faced a digital divide compared to the rest of the population, which can create additional barriers to employment and everyday life.
The digital transformation has changed how we interact with the world around us - particularly in the workplace. In this context, proficiency in digital tools has become essential, making it increasingly important to provide digital skills training for all workers.
The ICT sector is one of the sectors that generates the most new jobs. There is currently a shortage of about 100,000 professionals in digital skills. The objective of the Training programs of the Digital Diversity Hub (HDD) is to meet the needs of the labour market, detected by the ICT Cluster, in order to improve employability.
Why is this a good practice?
The HDD Integralia DKV is a programme designed to support people with physical, organic, sensory and mental health disabilities, people with autism and with high difficulties in finding employment through training in the digital services most in demand by the ICT sector. This sector includes critical areas such as Web Accessibility and Applications Testing, Q&A Testing, UX Testing, JAVA Programming, Cybersecurity, Digital Accessibility, Programming, Customer Support/Technology, Social Media and Digital Content Creation.
People with disabilities receive training in specific digital skills with a duration of 200 and 300 hours of theoretical-practical training, plus 100 hours of training in workplaces (practices in companies) and work programmes (digital employment pathway) that have a duration of between 8 and 10 months. Always with the aim of getting a job, we combine the latest technologies to create a dynamic and collaborative learning environment. We consider the virtual classroom (we break down geographical and mobility barriers) a learning laboratory that allows students to develop practical skills and gain work experience.
After the training, the participants obtain a certificate that accredits their new skills and are integrated into itineraries to facilitate their insertion into the labor market. Asiismo collaborates with the business sector to improve its internal processes of recruitment, selection, accompaniment and awareness of workers, as well as in the hiring of people with disabilities, creating inclusive environments.
A replicable model
The Hub was born in Gijón in 2020 with the aim of being replicable and is already present in 10 Spanish and 7 Colombian cities. Today it is already a reality in Gijón, Oviedo, Avilés, Mancomunidad Comarca de la Sidra, Valencia, Zaragoza, A Coruña, Extremadura and Andalusia in collaboration with Cocemfe the municipalities of Gijón, Oviedo, Avilés, Huelva, Málaga, and Clusters of technology companies such as Clúster Tic Galicia, Fundecyt Pctex, Smart City Cluters, Fujitsu, AECTA, among many others. Since its inception, the HDD has oriented 652 students, 272 people on a job path and has managed to get 201 people with disabilities into the labor market with an employment contract through training in the digital skills most demanded by ICT companies.
Likewise, the HDD has gone beyond Spain and began its journey in Colombia until 2026 in the departments of Chocó, Antioquia, Nariño, Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Santander, north of Santander, thanks to the support and financing of AECID (MAEC, Government of Spain), United in RED and Pact of Productivity.
