People who encounter problems related to architectural accessibility can make complaints and petitions to the authorities through the mobile application Panoul de Bord. It can be downloaded for free for Android and iOS operating systems.
Within the project “Advocacy for community access for wheelchair users” implemented by Motivation Romania Foundation in partnership with Segoia Association, with the financial support of Active Citizens Fund Romania, a program funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through EEA Grants 2014-2021, Panoul de Bord application was developed by adding a new category of complaints called Disability and Inclusion. The first type of notification in this category is called Accessibility. With this option, notifications and petitions can be sent by people with and without disabilities who notice problems related to the lack of accessibility.
The notifications and petitions made by citizens regarding the accessibility problems are directed to the County Agencies of Payments and Social Inspection, in order to take measures and remedy them.
Through Panoul de Bord application, people with disabilities will be able to report more easily the accessibility problems they face in their daily lives and which are major barriers to their social inclusion.
In 2020, out of the almost 3000 downloads of Panoul de Bord application, almost 700 notifications were submitted to public institutions in Romania. Of these, the percentage of resolutions reported by petitioners exceeded 6%.
For the next period, we intend to develop three other types of complaints in the Disability and Inclusion category, which may cover other areas of interest for people with disabilities such as mobility and assistance equipment, education or employment.
Working together for an inclusive Europe.
About Active Citizens Fund Romania
The Active Citizens Fund Romania programme is funded through the EEA Grants 2014-2021. The overall objective of the Grants is to reduce economic and social disparities, and to strengthen bilateral relations between 15 beneficiary countries and the Donor States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). The programme is administered by a consortium composed of Civil Society Development Foundation, Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation, Resource Center for Roma Communities, PACT Foundation and Frivillighet Norge, acting as Fund Operator designated by FMO – Financial Mechanism Office of the EEA and Norway Grants. The objectives of the Active Citizens Fund Romania are to strengthen civil society and active citizenship and to empower vulnerable groups. With a total allocation of 46,000,000 euro, the programme pursues a long-term development of the civil society sector sustainability and capacity, stepping up its role in promoting democratic participation, active citizenship and human rights, while strengthening bilateral relations with organizations from the Donor States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. For more information about the Active Citizens Fund in Romania, please go to www.activecitizensfund.ro. For more information about the EEA and Norway Grants, go to www.eeagrants.org.
About Motivation Romania Foundation
Motivation Romania Foundation is a non-profit organization, created in 1995 to support children and adults with disabilities. The services offered cover a wide range of needs, from assessment and adapted equipment for different types of mobility disabilities, to active recovery and training for independent living with a wheelchair instructor, advice for spaces accessibility and adapted sports. So far, Motivation has restored freedom of movement and hope in a fulfilled life for more than 25,800 people with disabilities in Romania. More information on www.motivation.ro.
About Segoia Association
Segoia Association is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, created in 2017, concerned with the development of civil society, promotion of democratic values, open government and citizen involvement through technology. More information on: https://segoia.ro.