So, what does the law rule?
- Every shelter built after April 2007 – in a residency, facility, public building, or public space – must be accessible for people with disabilities. It includes not only the shelter itself but also the path leading to it.
- The scale of adjustments is determined by the size of the shelter of the building it is located in, the number of people visiting the building, and whether it is a new structure or an addition to an existing building. That is to say, we have to consider reality, but keep the core principle – accessibility for all.
- The process of making shelter accessible is conducted on a national level, according to the regulations legislated in cooperation with the people with disabilities organizations, experts, and government officials. That way, it is ensured that the criteria for accessibility are uniform, professional, and humane.
- In exceptional cases where it is impossible to make a shelter fully accessible (like sites with an archeological value, or certain natural sites), an exemption will be given, but even then – an alternative, efficient solution must be found to ensure that people with disabilities are able to safely and quickly shelter themselves like everyone else.
And what do the regulations rule?
Here come the little details, which make all the difference:
- In buildings designated for people with disabilities – the shelter must be accessible.
- Individual adjustments must be made, according to the needs of the people residing in the building or staying in it during the day.
- If there is a duty to install chemical bathrooms at the shelter – accessible chemical bathrooms must also be installed in a shelter with no functioning accessible bathrooms. Not “almost”, but with everything that is needed: a seat with the appropriate height and measurements, stable hand grips as specified in the regulations, a curtain or other method of retaining privacy suitable for a person with a wheelchair, and sufficient free passage space.
- If there are showers – one has to be accessible.
- And alas, we cannot omit the signage. Signage in shelters must be clear, readable, and with a strong color contrast (for example, yellow over black). The signs must point to everything important to know: activity rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, showers, information centers, etc. In addition, obstacles in the middle of the path – such as pillars – must be marked.
The meaning of it all is simple: during an emergency, when all of us are looking for safety, people with disabilities also need to know they have a safe and accessible place to arrive at.
Shelter accessibility reminds us that true safety is built while thinking about each and every one of us. During an emergency, there is no room for compromise – all of us need to know there is a shelter awaiting us, with no barriers or obstacles. It is not only a legal duty, but a humane and social responsibility. Because when shelters are accessible for all, they do not provide only a sense of security – but a sense of belonging, too.