Gdynia without Barriers

The constantly growing consciousness of equality of rights has helped to notice discrimination of the disabled in some aspects of Me. An important moment for the municipality was the appointment of Mayor Plenipotentiary on the Disabled to co-ordinate actions in the municipality.

The next step was the establishment of complex service centre for the disabled in the City Hall as well as employment of a person who knows sign language. It is worth stressing here the importance of the programme of complex action for the disabled: Gdynia without Barriers adopted by Gdynia City Council in 2000 and adoption of Agenda 22 in 2002.

In order to facilitate employment search, Job Activation Division has been created. Thanks to its efforts 89 disabled persons have been employed. Additionally, the conference for Gdynia's employers was organised where they learned about legal solutions for those employing the disabled.

Favourable conditions for the development of non-governmental organisations and regular meetings with their representatives allowed for the assessments for the group of the disabled. It has been noticed that services responsible for observing the law estimated incorrectly needs of the disabled. Hence, workshops for the police, city guards, and security guards of shopping malls were organised. Their main topic was the accessibility of parking place and labelling of the vehicles of people with movement disfunctions. Additionally, Gdynia firemen have been trained in sign language, and an emergency system for the deaf-mute has been created. Gdynia's guide for the disabled with information on communication, education, law regulations and social welfare has been issued. In co-operation with non-governmental organisations, institutions helping the mentally handicapped, the blind, the people with impaired sight and the deaf-mute have been established. Organisations that support the disabled use the buildings owned by the city free of charge.

Moreover, flats adapted to the needs of the disabled have been built. At the same the time programme of sheltered accommodation for the mentally handicapped (to enable them to live on their own) has been carried out. Exhibitions and open-air workshops for the artists painting with feet and mouth as well as exhibitions of the best Polish photographers were organised. Performances in theatres, films in cinemas and information programmes in Gdynia TV are interpreted in sign language.

In 2002, Gdynia City Council adopted a document Agenda 22.