ACCESS Égalité, the certification of the accessibility of structures and services
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Égalité Onlus and Qualitalia present 'ACCESS Égalité', a new certification standard for the accessibility of facilities and service providers in the public and private sectors. Hotels, restaurants, canteens, shops, sports and recreational facilities, but also offices, professional studios, etc.
The 'ACCESS Égalité' project was born from the bottom, stimulated by people with various disabilities and frailties who are involved both in the drafting of the specifications and in the inspection activities alongside the professional certifiers. In the logic of sharing everyone's concrete needs.
Accessibility denied, enough!
The initiative aims to improve the receptivity and inclusion of people with disabilities: an audience that includes one in seven people, globally (WHO, 2011), and is destined to increase with the constant increase in the elderly population. (1)
The accessibility of infrastructures and services in Italy it is still non-existent, with rare exceptions. Added to this is the approximation of information, on websites such as online booking platforms, where many structures are presented as 'accessible' despite lacking the essential requirements for this purpose. (2)
Inaccessibility and misinformation - in addition to configuring violations of the law, incompatible with the 'sustainability' and 'social responsibility' declared by many - they also deprive accommodation facilities, like the generality of service providers, of a user and market share with still unexpressed potential .
The ACCESS certification
Certification voluntary 'ACCESS' certifies the compliance of the structure and/or service provider with the requirements established in a specification structured on the basis of ISO standards and international guidelines on the removal of architectural and cultural barriers.
Certification ACCESS is divided into three versions, relating to the correct reception of users and customers with motor, sensory and mental disabilities.
Consistency and professionalism
The absolute consistency of the requirements certifiable by Access is guaranteed by the participation in the audits of professional auditors supported by disabled certifiers, trained by the Egalitech social cooperative.
La partnerships Égalité-Qualitalia-Certification bodies ensures independence, reliability, impartiality and professionalism.
Égalité onlus, registered in the register of Third Sector Bodies, has been engaged since 2019 in awareness-raising activities and projects to overcome the architectural and cultural barriers that limit the quality of life of people with disabilities and fragility. Winner of the international "Make to care" award with her intelligent (wheelchair) chair project, whose production is entrusted to the Social Cooperative egalitech, in collaboration with Regis Motors. (3)
Qualitaly has been operating for over 25 years in consultancy for companies and certification bodies, for the creation and achievement of voluntary system, process, service and product certifications. Its founder Andrea Verme has gained experience in designing product and service certification bodies and specifications, such as the halal certification of food products and the certification of good practices for veterinary practices and clinics. (4)
Marta Strinati
Note
(1) Dario Dongo. Disability. Egalité. 1.8.19
(2) Dario Dongo. Booking.com and disabilities. Complaint from Égalité to the Antitrust Authority. Egalité. 11.9.19
(3) Dario Dongo. The Intelligent Chair wins the #MaketoCare international competition. Egalité. 10.12.20
(4) See https://www.qualitaliasrl.it/
