News

We are pleased to announce the opening of the Accessibility Office – a new unit supporting students, staff and visitors to the university in the area of accessibility. The office was established as part of the ‘START – improving accessibility at the Medical University of Bialystok’ project and is located in Student House No. 1 at ul. Akademicka 3 in Bialystok.

The creation of the Accessibility Office is a response to the real needs of the academic community, providing a centre for support and coordination of activities for people with disabilities, special needs and those who temporarily encounter barriers in functioning at the university. The Office will enable more efficient identification of architectural, communication and organisational barriers and initiate activities aimed at their systematic elimination.

Two office rooms and a fully adapted toilet for persons with disabilities have been adapted for the needs of the Office. A number of solutions ensuring full accessibility have also been implemented in the building, including:

• a ramp and entrance from the car park equipped with automatic doors,

• barrier-free passageways inside the building,

• a tactile sign with a map of part of the Student House building to help visually impaired people find their way around,

• a designated parking space for persons with disabilities at the entrance to the Office,

• lowered kerbs on the road leading from the car park to the building,

• a rebuilt, fully accessible toilet equipped with, among other things, handles, sanitary accessories and a call system.

The Office's activities will contribute to improving the quality of academic life by increasing independence, a sense of security and comfort in studying and working. It will also be a place for providing information, advice and support on available solutions, adjustments and procedures, as well as a platform for cooperation between students, administrative staff and teaching staff. As a result, accessibility will become an integral part of the university's organisational culture, rather than just a set of individual measures.

The project ‘START – improving accessibility at the Medical University of Bialystok’ is implemented under the European Funds for Social Development 2021-2027 programme, co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus, Priority 3 Accessibility and services for persons with disabilities, Measure 03.01 Accessibility of higher education. The Podlasie Regional Council of Persons with Disabilities is a partner in the project.

Total value of the project: PLN 2,053,228.80.

Co-financing: PLN 1,991,631.80, of which PLN 1,694,324.41 comes from European funds.