BGK: Up to one million zlotys for companies to improve accessibility

Down million zlotys of low-interest loans can be obtained by entrepreneurs who want improve architectural, digital or communication and information accessibility for people with special needs – informed the National Economy Bank.

May 15 is World Accessibility Day. The holiday is raise awareness of the problems that people with disabilities may encounter, especially in digital integration.

BGK told PAP that the availability loan is a form of support for companies that want to increase the accessibility of their business activities. The loan is financed from the European Funds for Development programme. Social.

"There are so many possibilities and it all depends on the needs companies. The funds can be used to adapt, among other things, the entrances to the building and the parking lot to the needs of people with disabilities, install a ramp or elevator" – said Aneta Komosa, expert in the implementation of BGK intermediate instruments.

She added that the loan can also be used to improve digital accessibility, e.g. for adapting websites and applications mobile or to purchase special software, e.g. for transcribing recordings or color contrast analysis.

The loan can also be used to finance the purchase of induction loops or other solutions that will make it easier for the company to serve hearing-impaired people.

The bank explained that before granting a loan to entrepreneurs it is required to conduct an accessibility audit within the planned scope investment. It should, among other things, identify barriers and propose solutions.

In turn, the expert for accessibility at BGK, Julita Dul-Tomczuk pointed out that with the entry into force of the European Digital Accessibility Act Polish entrepreneurs were obliged to adapt their products and services to EU requirements.

"For some of them, finding the source becomes a challenge financing for these investments. The programs available at BGK can solve some of the these problems" - Dul-Tomczuk pointed out

As she noted, sometimes small changes are enough to improve availability.

"For example, a lowered counter at the reception of an office, service point or the hotel allows a person in a wheelchair, a short person or a child to easily communicate with the staff," Dul-Tomczuk added.

She recalled that in Poland about 30 percent of citizens are exposed is some form of unavailability, so it is important for entrepreneurs they also ensured the accessibility of their digital services and products: websites, electronic documents, online stores or applications.

“Architectural changes are only a small part of accessibility. We already have a lot of knowledge on how to eliminate these barriers. It's worse when it comes to services digital. There is still a lot to do here. Digital barriers still have to be addressed For example, visually impaired or deaf people may have to struggle," the BGK expert noted.

She pointed out that a good example of such barriers is the purchase of shoes. online.

"During the entire purchasing process we have to go through several entities and each of them should adapt the service to the needs of people with barriers. At first shoe selection – this can't be done using voice navigation yet. Then, payment for the purchase – i.e. the payment page, and finally the selection delivery. This means that we may encounter barriers at every stage," she stressed Dul-Tomczuk.

She informed that BGK has prepared guides for entrepreneurs wanting to invest in accessibility.

"Their task is to show solutions that can be applied for example, when building a lift in blocks of flats to improve their accessibility. The guides include also tips on how to improve digital or communication and information accessibility" – explained Dul-Tomczuk.

She emphasized that BGK also provided a guide for employees, how to establish friendly communication with those who have special needs needs.

"It happens that we don't know how to behave during a meeting e.g. with a deaf person or a person in a wheelchair. Questions arise in my head: can I say goodbye to a blind person? How do you greet someone without a hand? How to communicate with someone who speaks unclearly? A guide that helps to dispel these doubts," the expert added. (PAP)

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