LocationsThe "threshold" of accessibility at the Comrat Court of Appeal
June 25, 2024
"In 2018, when I joined the Comrat Court of Appeal, the first difficulty I encountered was the high doorstep at the main entrance. It was difficult for me to step over that doorstep without getting off balance and without help,"
recalls Olesea Topal, a senior specialist in the Interpreters and Translators Section at the Comrat Court of Appeal, a court that tends to become a model for ensuring accessibility.
During the past six years since Olesea was hired, the institution has been making changes to become as inclusive as possible for employees and litigants.
It all started with reasonable accommodation measures to make Olesea comfortable in her workplace and then it went on to look at accessibility for all litigants: people with disabilities, older people, parents with strollers.
Exterior and interior ramps have been installed, and entrances adapted for wheelchair access. Sanitary blocks have been made accessible, support bars and an alarm button have been installed.
In addition to physical accessibility, information accessibility was also taken into account. Braille signage and an information board with visible notices in contrasting colours and tactile signs were installed. All this was made possible with the support of the non-governmental sector and development partners, but also from the institution's budget.
Furthermore, to ensure that all these measures reflect people's needs, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in a project funded by the German Government, has facilitated an audit exercise - "user safari", which involves testing the accessibility of the institution's beneficiaries, who come up with practical recommendations. "Nothing about us without us," explains Olesea Topal.
"Every person must have conditions that ensure freedom of action"
"We have come such a long way. If initially the colleagues realised that it was difficult for me to move to the second floor and moved me to the ground floor and removed the doorstep, now we are already taking specific steps to make the whole institution accessible," says Olesea.
"Facilitating access to the workplace, ensuring the necessary conditions for each employee is a priority for the Comrat court, as well as ensuring access to justice for all people," says Andrei Mironov, Acting President of the Comrat Court of Appeal.
The courtrooms have been adapted for access for people with reduced mobility, with visual and hearing impairments. The cable ducts in the floor have been removed and replaced with a new cable under the ceiling to ensure smooth movement through the room.
"Every person must have conditions that ensure freedom of action," Olesea is convinced. And access to public institutions for all people is a right.
"People need to understand that disability is not a verdict that keeps us indoors. We are just as important as all people, we have the same rights and we should have the same opportunities. Equal access to justice, services and information is vital for everyone, but especially for people with different types of disabilities", concludes Olesea Topal.
"Every person must have conditions that ensure freedom of action"
"We have come such a long way. If initially the colleagues realised that it was difficult for me to move to the second floor and moved me to the ground floor and removed the doorstep, now we are already taking specific steps to make the whole institution accessible," says Olesea.
"Facilitating access to the workplace, ensuring the necessary conditions for each employee is a priority for the Comrat court, as well as ensuring access to justice for all people," says Andrei Mironov, Acting President of the Comrat Court of Appeal.
The courtrooms have been adapted for access for people with reduced mobility, with visual and hearing impairments. The cable ducts in the floor have been removed and replaced with a new cable under the ceiling to ensure smooth movement through the room.
"Every person must have conditions that ensure freedom of action," Olesea is convinced. And access to public institutions for all people is a right.
"People need to understand that disability is not a sentence that keeps us indoors. We are just as important as all people, we have the same rights, and we should have the same opportunities. Equal access to justice, services and information is vital for everyone, but especially for people with different types of disabilities", concludes Olesea Topal.
