District takes positive stock of accessibility pilot project

For three years, the district of Waldeck-Frankenberg was one of over 20 model regions for accessibility in the state of Hesse. Although the project has now come to an end, work in this area will continue: Numerous measures have already been developed and implemented. Accessibility and inclusion are to be further promoted in Waldeck-Frankenberg.

"The project has shown us once again how important it is to permanently anchor accessibility and inclusion in our structures," explains District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. "As a model region, we have been able to gain valuable experience and have already established fundamental structures on which we can now build further," emphasises Karl-Friedrich Frese, First District Councillor.

Facilitating access to barrier-free housing
One of the most important achievements of the project is the establishment of a comprehensive housing advice network, which is available to interested parties and those seeking advice on the subject of age-appropriate and disability-friendly, barrier-free housing in Waldeck-Frankenberg. In line with this, a newly established housing exchange for barrier-free housing makes it easier for interested parties to find suitable flats and houses. Offers and requests are bundled and brought together centrally here.

"We have made significant progress, particularly in the area of construction," emphasises municipal disability officer Alexandra Köck. "We offer comprehensive advice on barrier-free construction and remodelling and draw up statements on accessibility in public building projects - also and above all for municipalities that do not have their own representatives for this. This is an important step towards avoiding barriers at the planning stage in future." Should they nevertheless occur in the district, an innovative barrier reporter enables citizens to report obstacles in public spaces quickly, digitally and easily.

Advice, competition, inclusive sports day
The "Barrier-free gastronomy" competition recognised projects and measures that improve participation in gastronomy and tourism, while the inclusive sports and games day united people with and without disabilities in sporting activities. The measures are framed by a central information and advice centre for accessibility and inclusion, which serves as a point of contact for all questions relating to the topic.

Despite numerous measures, challenges to accessibility in the district remain: "The lack of available accessible living space remains an issue. Demand clearly exceeds supply," says First District Councillor Karl-Friedrich Frese. "We are working hard to identify vacant accessible flats and promote new construction."

Commitment to accessibility and inclusion
As a consequence of the pilot project, the tasks of the municipal disability officers will also be expanded and dovetailed with the content of the pilot region. "This is our binding commitment to establishing accessibility and inclusion as permanent topics," says District Administrator Jürgen van der Horst. "We see this not only as a social obligation, but also as an economically sensible investment in the future of our region."

Several ongoing projects will be continued and expanded. The "MITEINANDER BEWEGT" cooperation with Bathildisheim e.V. on inclusive sport will run until the end of 2026 and aims to develop a network of inclusive sports programmes. Mapping activities for the Wheelmap will continue in order to improve the mapping of accessible locations in the district. Of course, the barrier reporter will remain an important tool for identifying and removing obstacles.

A clear signal in favour of an inclusive society
"Accessibility and inclusion are not yet a matter of course for us and continue to require strong support," summarises Karl-Friedrich Frese. "By stabilising the project content and strengthening the position of the Disability Officer, we are sending out a clear signal of our commitment to an inclusive society." The district of Waldeck-Frankenberg sees the pilot project as an important step on the way to a more inclusive region and will integrate the knowledge gained into its work in the long term. All citizens are invited to continue to play an active role in shaping a barrier-free district.

Keywords:

Accessibility Municipal Disability Officer Specialist Service for Women and Equal Opportunities