Title: Salvador Association – an App “+ Access for All”
Country: PORTUGAL
Form(s) of actions:
Internet App
Type(s) of actions
Own services/proposals for solutions.
Summary:
The mobile phone application “+ Access for All” was created by the Salvador Association. This NGO created the “Portugal Mais Acessível” (Portugal more acessible) project, which includes this app, as it feels that despite the Accessibility Law being 20 years old, the changes are few.
The app is free and can be installed by anyone, who uses it to evaluate spaces (for example, restaurants) in terms of accessibility, taking into account four items: accessible bathroom, existence of parking reserved for people with disabilities, entrance unhindered and unhindered internal circulation.
The application is, therefore, an easy way for people to report non-compliant sites, and mitigates the persistent problem of lack of accessibility for people with disabilities induced by lack of supervision; many exceptions to the law…)
The dissemination of this application was complemented by the debate, promoted by Associação Salvador, entitled “Accessibility, one of the main factors of social exclusion of people with motor disabilities”, in Lisbon, in February 2019.
Aim:
The Associação Salvador creates an App (“+ Access for All”) to report lack of accessibility receives more than 650 complaints in eight months. The application is free and can be installed by anyone, who uses it to evaluate spaces in terms of accessibility, taking into account four items: accessible bathroom, existence of parking reserved for people with disabilities, unimpeded entry and unimpeded internal circulation, obstacles. With the application installed, in addition to the assessment, it is possible to make a complaint, which is then forwarded to the competent authorities, that is, the National Institute for Rehabilitation (INR) and the Municipal Councils.
Main stakeholders:
Salvador Association, and in particular, the person responsible for the project management department.
Issues addressed:
The persistent problem with accessibility due to the lack of supervision, a responsibility that lies in the hands of the INR (Institute of National Reabilitation) and the local authorities, pointing out that among the Municipal Councils “there are very few who carry out this supervision”.
On the other hand, there are also many exceptions to the law, pointing out that, for example, restaurants with less than 150 square meters are not required to be accessible.
Outcome:
The number of complaints in a short period of time shows the success of the initiative.
Sustainability
N/A
Data source: Media Público