Seven in ten public buildings in Chisinau do not provide ramps for wheelchair users, shows an assessment carried out within the project “Access for everyone” that was implemented by the association “Motivatie” (“Motivation”). The members of the association expressed their disappointment with the state of affairs in the country in this field and with the attitude of many providers of public services, IPN reports.

Ion Emilian, specialist in spatial adjustments, said there were staged a number of marathons for assessing the accessibility of public buildings. There were examined 188 buildings in the municipality of Chisinau and 153 buildings in another three regions (Cahul, Hancesti and Edinet). In Chisinau, 73% of the buildings are inaccessible, 15% are partially inaccessible and only 12% are accessible. The result is similar to that in Hancesti and Edinet. In Cahul, the percentage of buildings with wheelchair access is 17.46%, with partial wheelchair access – 20.63%, while of inaccessible buildings - 62%. The assessment results were added to the Accessibility Map that is available on www.motivatie.md/harta-accesibilitate/.

The specialist said that only one of the seven local associations of family doctors has wheelchair access and none of them has parking places or toilets for persons with disabilities.

“The problem of accessibility in Moldova is acute and for us even one ramp is a huge result,” said project director Ludmila Iachim. “Motivatie” will demand imposing harsher penalties on those who authorize buildings that do not meet the accessibility requirements and on those who erect them.

“Access for everyone 2013-2014” is a follow-up to the project “Free in action 2011-2012”. Its goal is to diminish discrimination against persons with disabilities by promoting and improving physical access to social infrastructure. The project was implemented with the financial support of Soros Foundation Moldova through the Equality and Civic Engagement Program.