Digital Health

With the project "Arbeiten – wie ich es will!" (Working the way I want), Fraunhofer FIT and its partners are developing an AI-based tool to support people with disabilities in transitioning to the general labor market. The focus is on digital systems that empower self-determination rather than replacing decisions. On 11 March 2026, the project received first prize from BAG WfbM in the exzellent:bildung category, highlighting its innovative contribution to inclusive employment.

At Fraunhofer FIT, digital innovation is always linked to social responsibility. With "Arbeiten – wie ich es will!" (Working the way I want), we are developing an AI-based tool that enables people with disabilities to make their professional aspirations, strengths and support needs visible – and thus navigate their entry into the general labor market more autonomously.

The quality of this approach is reflected in a prestigious award: on 11 March 2026, the project received first prize from the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Werkstätten für behinderte Menschen e. V. (BAG WfbM), the German association of sheltered workshops, in the exzellent:bildung category at the “You can!” congress on inclusion in working life at the Congress Center Leipzig. The jury honored a concept that consistently combines technological innovation and inclusive practice.

The project focuses on a critical transition: moving from a workshop for people with disabilities into regular employment. This step is often marked by uncertainty – which job fits, what support is needed, how can this be discussed with professionals and potential employers? The tool addresses these questions by systematically capturing individual needs and translating them into concrete options.

Fraunhofer FIT is responsible for the technical implementation of an AI-supported needs assessment tool. Large Language Models (LLMs) facilitate communication with users. Low-barrier user interfaces designed by the Münster School of Design guide users through structured “journeys”. FIT integrates all components into an app that can be deployed and further developed in organizations such as Franz Sales Haus, the project’s initiator.

The solution is co-created with people with disabilities, practice partners and the Social Research Center at TU Dortmund University. Transparency, data protection and explainability of the AI functions are as important as ease of use. Funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the project is designed for transferability across regions and institutions. A central principle for Fraunhofer FIT is to design technology in a way that expands room for maneuvering and strengthens participation in working life.