Ten years after her serious training accident on July 30, 2015, which led to paraplegia and reported about the whole world, Kira Grünberg is making another strong sign. Today she sets itself as Ambassador for accessibility and for preventive health projects one, fights tirelessly for the rights of people with disabilities and inspires with their joie de vivre and determination. The iBox is another important project that Kira is very happy to support – an answer to the challenges of the new Barrier -free law lawwith June 28, 2025 Comes into force across the EU.
The EU Directive 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act-EAA) obliges companies from the end of June to design digital services such as websites, apps and information systems. This also affects digital ads such as at train stations, airports (e.g. on – and departure information) and in retail – the iBox comes into play here.
With combined forces for a barrier-free future: the former Austrian top-class jumping high jumper and current record holder in Austria (4.45 m), Kira Grünberg and entrepreneur Mag. Alexander Frank place on Mon, May 12, 2025 together iBox before – a groundbreaking innovation that combines functionality, inclusion and sustainability.
What is the iBox?
More than just an information terminal: the iBox is that Digital, barrier -free display solutionthat can be conveniently controlled from the desk. But that’s not all – it combines several practical functions:
Digital display and information board,
Garbage tank,
Ashtray,
Dog -petitioner
And in the future: Artificial intelligence to recognize safety -related processes in public places.
Behind the idea is Mag. Alexander Frankformer notary from Fehring in Styria. For his vision, he even gave up his job to devote himself entirely to the iBox. His goal: one Europe -wide uniform, flexible and cost -efficient solutionthat enables companies and municipalities to react quickly to the new legal requirements.
“The iBox is more than one product – it is a statement for innovation, inclusion and intelligent infrastructure,” says Frank.
At the official presentation on Monday, May 12, 2025, media appointment at 9:00 a.m. in the VIP terminal at Vienna Airport, stands Kira Grünberg For photos in front of the airport building and exclusive interviews afterwards in the VIP salon. She talks about why the iBox is an ideal solution for her, as it is 10 years after the serious sports accident today, her sporting career, how to deal with fate and her tireless efforts for accessibility. She will also talk about her future plans.
Kira Grünberg, ambassador for accessibility and preventive health projects
What does accessibility mean to you? And why do you like the Innovation Ibox?
In my opinion, accessibility is often thought too one -sided. Most only think of ramps and elevators for wheelchair users: inside. But accessibility means much more: it also includes the needs of blind, visually impaired and deaf people as well as people with learning difficulties. Every step towards more accessibility is extremely important. The iBox shows that innovation, technology and accessibility can complement each other ideally – and are therefore usable for everyone.
What feelings do you combine on July 30, 2015? How do you look back on this day? What will you never forget?
In the meantime I celebrate July 30th as my “Life Day”. This day completely turned my life upside down and changed just about everything. But with all the challenges there were also many positive developments. The accident and the resulting paraplegia have taught me to be more patient and relaxed. I got to know my body again – and I would even say that I understand it better today than before the accident.
How are you today – ten years after your fate?
I am very well. On the one hand, my accident has been ten years ago that it feels like a long time, but has passed very quickly. In these ten years I experienced an incredible amount and personally developed a lot.
How did you process all of this? What helped you the most?
I have often asked myself this question: Why was I able to handle the new situation so quickly? Today I know that many factors have played a role – and that I was lucky that a lot of things just matched in my case.
The first important step was to accept the new reality. I accepted the situation as it is – and built it on it. The great support from my family and my environment made a decisive contribution to my positive attitude. I was able to rely on people around me at any time.
Sport also helped me: I learned early on to deal with defeats and successes and to work hard on myself – physically and mentally. Through sport, I was also able to do a great team of doctors: inside and therapist: build inside, which played a very central role after the accident.
What I succeeded – and what I was able to actively influenced myself – was not to lose my strengths from the time as a competitive athlete. The motivation to set high goals and the optimism of being able to achieve them have remained.
During my rehab, I got to know many people with paraplegia who live a normal life – they are parents, work, travel, have hobbies. That showed me: I can also achieve all of this.
I also helped talk about everything – about the accident, my thoughts, feelings, worries. My sports psychologist, who also accompanied me after the accident, was a big support. The many lectures and interviews in which I regularly talk about what has happened and take new perspectives still help me today to process what they have experienced.
How do your life enjoy today? Will there be a comeback in professional sports?
I do a lot of sport – but no longer at a professional level. I drive handbike, do yoga and strength training, but only for fun and movement. This is very pleasant because I can design the sport as it fits me.
I can’t imagine a comeback in professional sports at the moment. For this, a sport would have to inspire me as much as the pole vault before. I haven’t found this yet.
What are your plans and goals for the future?
I continue to train for even more independence and freedom of movement. At some point I want to live with my own family and one or two children in my own household.
Professionally, it is important to me to have tasks that fulfill me with meaning – for example my lectures or meaningful collaborations such as those with the iBox.
In addition, I would like to continue to discover the world and remain open to new perspectives and the opinions of other people.
Alexander Frank, Ibox founder
Which solution have you developed and what are the advantages?
With the iBox, I have developed a digital scoreboard for public space, which on any information on Eye level of wheelchair users represent. The advantage is very simple, all obliged people save themselves larger renovation work through my product (e.g. by hanging and setting up screens) by placing the iBox. The iBox is delivered plug & play. And the advantage for those affected is also easy, since the iBox is a Fast nationwide implementation of legal requirements.
How did you even get your job as a notary partner for your iBox that you have been going on for over 10 years?
The activity in legal advice was always fulfilling and enriching for me. But I increasingly felt the desire to pass on my individually developed solutions not only in individual cases, but to a larger scale. My vision with the iBox can be reproduced, with which I can give people joy with my company and donate help.
You have big future plans with the iBox and even want to ensure more security in public spaces. What are your long -term goals with iBox?
The iBox is a multifunctional waste container for public space, with digital display areas and AI-controlled sensors for data protection Detection of environmental drains.
The iBox therefore not only meets the requirements for accessibility, it is also one Security facility for public space. On the one hand, the iBox will prevent certain crimes such as drug trafficking, sexual harassment, etc. in the future. However, in the event that someone is threatened / pursued / attacked, the iBox can also establish a direct connection to a security authority. The negotiations on the legally compliant implementation of these projects are on the home stretch.
My long -term goal is to increase security in Europe’s squares! A lot speaks for it at the moment …
Media appointment Future of Kira Grünberg & Presentation Ibox
Datum: 12.05.2025, 9:00 a.m. – 12.05.2025, 11:00 a.m.
Art: Press and
Ort: VIP terminal at Vienna Airport
Niki-Luda-allee/steinriegelweg
1300 Vienna Airport
Austria