The Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia will carry out an accessibility assessment of public facilities whose services are included in the list of providers of benefits for holders of the EU Disability Card. In addition to the benefits offered by the EU card, we want to ensure the accessibility of commercial and public facilities and, consequently, the usability of their services, especially for people with mobility and sensory disabilities. First, training for new field surveyors and for experts in urban planning and architecture will be carried out in cooperation with mentors with disabilities. Then, through an extensive field analysis of the physical and communication accessibility of buildings across Slovenia, EU card holders will be given access to information on the accessibility of a particular building before they actually visit it. On this occasion, the owner and managers of the facilities will be made aware of the current legislation on universal construction (universal design) and the use of facilities. Accessibility data for the 120 newly assessed facilities will be made available to cardholders on the website and mobile app of the EU Disability Card.
 
The project will contribute to greater social inclusion of people with different forms of disability and will also contribute to reducing the risk of poverty for people with disabilities by offering a range of benefits.
 
 
The project is in line with and implemented under the Operational Programme for the Implementation of the European Cohesion Policy in the period 2014–2020, Priority Axis 9: “Social inclusion and reducing the risk of poverty,” Priority Investment 9.1: “Active inclusion, including to promote equal opportunities and active participation, and to increase employability,” Specific Objective 9.1.3: “Preventing the slide into poverty or social exclusion and reducing inequalities in health”.
 
The project “Improving the accessibility of goods and services for people with disabilities through the European Disability Card” is co-financed by Slovenia’s Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities, and the European Union’s European Social Fund.
 
 
More information about the project can be found on the website of the lead partner, the National Council of Disabled Organizations of Slovenia (NSIOS).