Research & Results

IB PAS's entry into accessibility (DOSTEP)

Funding
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+): European Funds for Social Development 2021–2027 programme
Intermediary institution
National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR)
Project value
2,035,500 PLN, including the contribution from European Funds: 1,973,460 PLN
Number
FERS.03.01-IP.08-0003/24-00
Duration
2024–2027
Partner
Foundation of the Institute for Regional Development (FIRR)
Coordinator
Dr Grażyna Szarek-Łukaszewska (IB PAS), Dr Anna Rdest (FIRR)

Summary

The W. Szafer Institute of Botany of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Leader) and the Foundation of the Institute for Regional Development (Partner), within the framework of the European Funds for Social Development 2021–2027 programme co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus, are implementing a project aimed at removing barriers to access to science and education for people with special needs due to their health condition, including persons with disabilities (PwD), who study, work or cooperate with IB PAS or use its services.

During the project (from September 1, 2024 to February 28, 2027), it is planned to:

1. Organize the environment for the implementation of PwD support by:

  • creating an Accessibility Unit permanently embedded in the IB PAS organizational structure with a fully accessible architecture and accessible in terms of information, communication and digital resources and equipped with assistive technologies,
  • improving the digital accessibility of the IB PAS websites,
  • improving the information and communication accessibility of the lecture and conference room used by doctoral students and IB PAS staff for educational purposes (including teaching as part of the Doctoral School) and for scientific purposes.

2. Disseminate information on the PwD support environment on the website in an accessible form.

3. Creation and/or supplementation of procedures for PwD support.

4. Improving the knowledge of the IB PAS staff in the field of disability through participation in awareness and specialist training.

5. Obtaining detailed knowledge of existing architectural information and communication barriers.

6. Development of a catalogue of services supporting PwD doctoral students to be disseminated in an accessible form on the website and used in the creation of a long-term policy to eliminate barriers to the accessibility of PwD to education and scientific work.

#FunduszeUE

Reporting non-compliance of EFSD projects with the provisions of the CRPD

It is possible to report to the Managing Authority or the Intermediary Institution suspicions of non-compliance of the project or the beneficiary's activities with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, drawn up in New York on 13 December 2006 (Journal of Laws of 2012, item 1169, as amended), hereinafter referred to as the "CRPD". Signals, reports or complaints regarding the occurrence of non-compliance of EFSD projects with the provisions of the CRPD may be submitted by individuals (project participants or their proxies and representatives), institutions participating in the implementation of European Union funds, the social side (associations, foundations), by means of (in each of the following cases the report is considered to have been submitted in writing):

  1. traditional mail – in the form of a letter to the address of the ministry (Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy, 2/4 Wspólna Street, 00-926 Warsaw) or the address of the Intermediary Institution (National Centre for Research and Development, 69 Chmielna Street, 00-801 Warsaw);
  2. e-PUAP mailbox of the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy or the National Centre for Research and Development.

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