Accessibility action plan: how a community can prepare one for two years

For accessibility to become part of a community's daily life, concrete decisions are needed: exactly what to change, who is responsible, when to do it and where to obtain funding. This is why a community prepares a two-year accessibility action plan.

The accessibility action plan is based on three things:

▪️ residents' needs;

▪️ the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment until 2030;

▪️ the Community Development Strategy.

The plan is prepared for two years. During that time, the planned measures can be implemented, the results checked and, if necessary, the next steps and funding adjusted.

To prepare the plan, a community needs to complete five steps.

Step 1 — Identify people's needs

First, the community identifies the barriers residents face every day and when receiving services.

To do this, public consultations are held across six areas of accessibility: physical, informational, digital, social and civic, educational and economic.

The result is a specific list of challenges that need to be addressed.

The accessibility officer coordinates this work: collecting proposals, monitoring implementation of the plan and reporting results to the Local Accessibility Council.

Step 2 — Turn needs into concrete solutions

The identified challenges must then be turned into specific tasks and measures.

Each measure should address a particular need and deliver a clear result for people.

Step 3 — Draw up a plan, designate responsible parties and provide funding

The plan should cover all six areas of accessibility and include both systemic solutions and specific projects.

For example, systemic measures may include regular monitoring of access to public services, work with businesses and training for specialists.

Practical solutions include creating accessible streets, repairing and adapting premises, and grants to develop entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities.

For each measure, the following must be identified:

▪️ who is responsible;

▪️ when it will be implemented;

▪️ what result is expected;

▪️ which sources will fund it.

Funding may come from local and state budgets, international organisations and donor programmes, businesses and other sources not prohibited by law.

Step 4 — Public discussion

The completed draft plan is submitted to the Local Accessibility Council.

During the discussion, it is important to check:

▪️ whether residents' needs have been taken into account;

▪️ whether all six areas are covered;

▪️ whether the planned measures can realistically be implemented and whether resources are available.

Step 5 — Approve the plan and put it into practice

After discussion, the plan is approved by the relevant decision or order.

The responsible implementers then carry out the measures and monitor the results.

If a task cannot be completed within two years but remains important, it can be carried forward to the next plan.

The accessibility action plan helps a community turn people's needs into concrete solutions, identify responsible parties and resources, and remove barriers systematically.

If a community wants to work systematically on accessibility, the first step is to identify long-term goals and include them in its Community Development Strategy.

Learn more about how to do this at the link https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1PLtFV8KCu/