Yesterday, at the premises of the Equality Association, its President, Gere Tripkov, held a working meeting with Dejan Mitevski, Mayor of the Municipality of Aerodrom, focused on issues of particular importance to persons with disabilities and on advancing accessibility within the municipality.
At the initiative of the Equality Association, it was proposed to consider strengthening the role of the municipal authorities in monitoring and improving the quality of adjustments and adaptations of public spaces, and in a later phase, more broadly within public institutions, business entities, and private facilities.
What does accessibility mean?
Accessibility is not a privilege, but a fundamental right. It means ensuring that everyone can move freely, safely, and with dignity — persons with disabilities, parents with children in strollers, older persons, as well as people with reduced mobility.
За жал, ова право секојдневно е ограничено поради непристапни институции и објекти, узурпирани паркинг-места, недостиг од пристапни тоалети, непостоечки тактилни патеки за лицата со оштетен вид, неприлагодени шалтери, како и неуслужливи и понекогаш стигматизирачки услуги.
How can this be changed?
Промените се можни преку доследна примена и контрола на стандардите за пристапност. Тоа подразбира активно вклучување на општинските служби, урбанистите, архитектите и инспекциските служби во следење на решенијата за:
appropriate curb heights and sidewalk access points,
accessible pedestrian and walking paths,
tactile paving for persons with visual impairments,
audible traffic signals,
adapted service counters and services,
as well as the design and provision of accessible toilets in all new, as well as existing, educational, cultural, and public institutions, including the multifunctional cultural centre currently under construction.
What does the cooperation include?
The Equality Association and the Municipality of Aerodrom will sign a Memorandum of Cooperation that will define the ways in which they will work together to improve accessibility. Within this cooperation, expertise on applying the highest accessibility standards will be provided directly by those most affected, as well as by professionals from the Association and its international partners.
This memorandum will represent the first step toward establishing sustainable public-private cooperation and, in a later phase, toward the preparation of substantial and strategic documents at the local level. The goal is to create a successful and applicable model that can later be transferred to other municipalities as well.
Why the Municipality of Aerodrom?
The Municipality of Aerodrom is our home municipality, and that is precisely why we want to turn accessibility standards into a reality here — with strong commitment and support from the Mayor and the municipal services — and make it a visible example of good practice.
Our goal is to build a better tomorrow together, starting today. A municipality designed for all citizens, not just for one part of the population. A municipality where no one will be excluded, neglected, or discriminated against.
