Local Workshops: Bridging the gap in accessible transport services

Each project partner (PP) undertook the organization of a local workshop within their region as part of a collaborative effort to address the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in transport. These workshops were crucial in identifying and bridging the gaps between the requirements of target users and the current transport services available. The primary target users included individuals with visual impairments (blind and partially sighted), hearing impairments (deaf and hard of hearing), and persons with reduced mobility (PRM).

The core purpose of these workshops was to engage target users directly in the evaluation process. Participants were encouraged to voice their experiences and discuss the specific challenges they face in accessing transport services. This approach facilitated a more profound understanding of the barriers encountered by users and the ways in which current services fall short of meeting their needs.

To standardize and document the findings, each project partner completed a workshop template designed by the Croatian Union of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (SOIH). This template covered three primary thematic areas:

• Legislation on transport services: Participants assessed how current laws impact accessibility and whether they sufficiently protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
• Current state of transport services: This section explored the existing conditions and accessibility features (or lack thereof) in local transport systems.
• Recommendations for improvement: Each group contributed ideas and recommendations for enhancing the quality of transport services for persons with disabilities.

The workshops fostered constructive discussions where participants shared unique perspectives and innovative solutions. As a result, a broad spectrum of experiences and recommendations were gathered, providing valuable insights for Deliverable D.1.1.4, the Assessment Feedback Report.

The insights and recommendations collected from each workshop serve as a foundation for future project proposals, aiming to enhance the accessibility and inclusiveness of transport systems.