On July 2, 2024, at the AccessibleEU resource center’s all-day event titled ‘Smart Cities: Enhancing Urban Design and Mobility for All,’ held at the ONCE Foundation headquarters in Madrid, Spain, Autism-Europe participated in a panel discussion dedicated to “Users of urban environment” and highlighted how to make urban spaces accessible for autistic people pointing to existing barriers and suggesting good practices from across Europe and from AE members.
At the AccessibleEU European event titled ‘Smart Cities: Enhancing Urban Design and Mobility for All,’ organized by the Spanish ONCE Foundation, Autism-Europe was represented by Paloma Contreras from AE’s member organization, Autismo España. During the panel discussion on ‘Users of the Urban Environment: Needs, Problems, and Good Practices for the Use and Enjoyment of Public Spaces,’ Paloma Contreras highlighted the accessibility needs of autistic individuals. The panel, moderated by Elena Stylianou, Director of the Nicosia Municipal Arts Center in Cyprus, also featured Agnes Kojc, a wheelchair user and board member of the Cerebral Palsy European Communities Association, who shared her ongoing challenges in accessing her own university. Antonella Candiago, a wheelchair user and policy officer at the European Network for Independent Living (ENIL), discussed her experiences as a disabled woman. Mercedes Mayoral, a psychologist and relative of dyslexic children from Catalonia, provided insights into the accessibility needs of neurodivergent individuals. The panel concluded with a contribution from deaf policy manager Alexandre Bloxs from the European Union of the Deaf, emphasizing that sign languages are not only an accessibility feature but also an essential part of Europe’s linguistic diversity.”
Accessibility of urban spaces for autistic people
Paloma Contreras emphasized that autism is a spectrum, and each autistic individual has unique accessibility needs. However, common challenges exist across all autistic people, including difficulties with communication, cognition, social interaction, and sensory perception. To address these needs, clear language and easy-to-read text should be made made available in urban spaces. Additionally, they should be well-structured, provide orientation cues, have proper signage, and offer visual aids to prepare autistic users for unexpected events.
Paloma highlighted that in cities, sensory stimulation should be minimized, quiet spaces should be available, and information related to security and protection should be accessible. She stressed that autistic people should be involved in the design phase of urban environments to ensure they are accessible to them.
Paloma also shared examples of good practices. The Greek National Museum of Contemporary Art, recognized as the first sensory-friendly museum in the European Union for autism, has made a range of appropriate accommodations. Additionally, our members Autismo España and several of our affiliated associations have cooperated to publish a guide titled ‘entitled “Inclusive cities: autistic-friendly environments”. Lastly, she presented the Dublin Autism Friendly Capital initiative, co-produced by Autism-Europe’s Irish member, AsIam.”
What is AccessibleEU?
The European Commission’s AccessibleEU Resource Centre, which is part of the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030, strives to enhance accessibility coherence through strategic tools including training, awareness, and sharing best practices. This effort includes promoting accessibility standards and engaging public, private, and civil society DPOs, to foster a united EU approach.
AccessibleEU adopts a Design for All approach, boosting accessibility for greater inclusivity, social integration, and improved quality of life for European citizens throughout their lives. As a European one-stop shop, AccessibleEU provides stakeholders with cutting-edge expertise, benefiting policymakers, legislators, accessibility advocates, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
AccessibleEU, relying on the in-depth knowledge of its network of National Experts, aims to strengthen contacts and connections between key players and main entities, both public, private, and non-profit, to foster common interests.
It is also imperative to assist all parties to ensure that the dedication of resources responds adequately to the new accessibility regulations and to offer better services and products to the growing customer demand. In this regard, networking events on a European scale are crucial to connect stakeholders in accessibility in a changing context that increasingly demands effective solutions.
AccessibleEU’s goals include connecting stakeholders responsible for implementing accessibility rules in across Europe. To do that, the Centre has created a community of practice comprising accessibility experts from different EU countries as well as other people with interest in accessibility. If you want to be part of our community, please follow the link: Community of Practice.
AccessCityAward 2025 applications are open now
The full-day event also touched on a following panel on the AccessCityAward (ACA). This is an initiative to ensure accessibility for persons with disabilities and is organised by the European Commission (EC) in partnership with the European Disability Forum (EDF). The ACA will be awarded for the fifteenth time in November 2024 at the European Day of Persons with Disability (EDPD), an EC and EDF event on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities taking place every December 3. Applications for this EU award recognising cities that have done outstanding work to become more accessible for persons with disabilities just recently opened and will have to be submitted online by 10 September 2024 (23:59 CET).
The winner and runners-up receive a monetary prize:
- 1st place: EUR 150 000
- 2nd place: EUR 120 000
- 3rd place: EUR 80 000
Applicant cities may also receive a Special Mention award if they have done exceptional work on accessibility in a particular area. For example, on built environment and public space; mobility, transport, and related infrastructure; information and communication, including ICT; or public facilities and services.
This year, in honour of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the European Commission intends to award a Special Mention on ‘Accessible Sports Infrastructure’. This aims to recognise a city that has made high-quality and inclusive sports experiences accessible to all. Alongside the health benefits sports can bring, they can also provide an avenue for inclusion, integration and cohesion.
More information here.