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Demands of persons with disabilities for
accessible railway services Maria Nyman Policy
Officer European Disability Forum
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• European Disability Forum
• Representative organisation of persons with
  disabilities in the EU
• Two-fold membership ENGOs and National
  disability councils
• Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities
  in all EU policies (mainstreaming of disability)

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• Existing barriers
• Lack of accessibility to infrastructure and
  rolling stock
• Attitudinal barriers
• Lack of information about the accessibility of
  the service as well as lack of information in
  accessible formats
• Poor levels of assistance (not everywhere!)
• Limted information about or accessibility to
  intermodal connections
• These barriers have to be dismantled in order to
  ensure full inclusion and equal participation of
  persons with disabilities.
• Legislation thus has to be comprehensive, but
  also correctly interpreted, implemented and
  enforced!

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EDF demands

• Design for all of the built environment and
  rolling stock
• Information in accessible formats
• Access to the ticketing system
• Seamless assistance
• Inclusive safety and emergency procedures
• The right to bring a personal assistant when
  relevant

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• Costs?
• Huge investments are already being made - costly
  to adapt the existing services
• Technical and infrastructural barriers
• Benefits!
• Design for all creates value for owners
• More comfortable for all - more potential
  passengers
• Social inclusion means cost-savings for society

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Final remarks

• Long-term plans to gradually improve
  accessibility - consult with users
• Formal standards is a tool for improving
  accessibility - benefits both operators and users
  
• Persons with disabilities are not only passengers
  - also potential employees
• Ongoing cooperation with all stakeholders (public
  authorities, manufacturers, users) in order to
  ensure compatibility of all relating systems.
  Accessibility solutions must be integrated in
  order to not create any new, additional,
  barriers!

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Thank you for your attention! www.edf-feph.org
Maria Nyman Policy Officer European Disability
Forum maria.nyman_at_edf-feph.org