“The League of the Strong” public union insists on expanding the list of objects subject to mandatory monitoring for accessibility. A letter with the relevant proposals was sent to the Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure of Ukraine. The list is approved and published annually by the Ministry of Infrastructure by June 1. Based on this list, regional and local authorities provide information on the types of facilities to be assessed for accessibility to facility managers. This was reported by Daria Sydorenko, executive director of “The League of the Strong” public union.
“All decisions on accessibility should be made taking into account the opinion of people with disabilities and public organizations representing them. The existing list will not allow monitoring the entire infrastructure and physical environment. It does not include many key types of public buildings and facilities. We are working to ensure that all institutions and pedestrian paths are accessibility. Therefore, there should be no exceptions in this matter,” said Daria Sydorenko, executive director of “The League of the Strong” NGO.
This is the second time that the League of the Strong has sent a letter with proposals for the list of facilities to the Ministry of Infrastructure. Some of the proposals were not taken into account.
In the second letter, the “League of the Strong”, in particular, suggests that monitoring of pedestrian traffic routes should be carried out on all streets of the settlement. Not only on the central streets, as it is currently defined. Along with monitoring of pedestrian paths, monitoring of underground and above-ground pedestrian crossings should also be carried out.
In addition, the League of the Strong suggests that the types of objects to be monitored should include buildings to accommodate evacuees, buildings of state and local authorities, pension funds, taxpayer centers and employment centers, sports complexes and facilities, cultural institutions, archival institutions, libraries, utility service centers, housing and maintenance offices, service centers for customer service on housing and utility services, metro stations, and recreation areas.
As a reminder, according to Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 537 “On Approval of the Procedure for Monitoring and Assessment of the Degree of Accessibility Physical Environment and Services for Persons with Disabilities,” balance holders monitor facilities for accessibility. Every year, by June 1, the Ministry of Infrastructure determines and publishes a list of types of facilities to be monitored.