Since 2019, numerous initiatives have been undertaken and significant interventions have been made so that Athens can provide seamless access and participation for people with disabilities in every aspect of daily life. Among the interventions made recently were more ramps for the disabled in neighborhoods and the city center through the major reconstruction project of 410 sidewalks, smart sensors to prevent anti-social parking on disabled ramps, the creation of relevant infrastructure in 257 school units, new designated disabled parking spaces with road markings and in municipal parking lots, supportive services for better assistance from the Municipality’s administrative services, as well as the upgrading of sports facilities with installations that facilitate their access. Additionally, a package of acoustic accessibility technologies, to serve citizens with hearing difficulties, has been put into operation at the Civil Registry of the City of Athens, strengthening the effort to combat the social exclusion of citizens living with difficulties and disabilities.
Respect for the right to access and quality of life is only achieved through actions.
Which areas of the City of Athens are accessible to people with disabilities?
Swimming Pools: At the Serafeio Sports Center, a state-of-the-art swimming pool is in operation where there is access for people with disabilities both in the stands and the changing rooms. The Goudi and Kolokynthou swimming pools have been equipped with latest-technology lifts as well as two new wheelchairs. Now, the entry and exit of People with Disabilities into the swimming pool is fast, easy, and above all, safe.
Free swimming and special exercise programs for children and adults with disabilities. The municipal swimming pools in Goudi, Serafeio, Kolokynthou, Grava, as well as the “I. Fokianos” Athens Gym, open their doors every week -from Monday to Saturday- to welcome people with disabilities interested in swimming and gymnastics. These programs are implemented either individually or in small groups of 2 or 3 people, aiming for the best performance and the greatest possible therapeutic benefit for the participants. The programs are aimed at children, adolescents, and adults aged 5-40 and are designed by specialized educators.
The municipal gyms of Mets, Strefi, Rouf, Goudi, Sepolia, Lenorman, Kypseli, Evelpidon, and Polygono are sports venues accessible to wheelchairs (but not all have WC for people with disabilities). See information here https://www.cityofathens.gr/where/gymnastirio/
Open spaces for sports and play are also accessible, such as the playground at Plato’s Academy, which is the first playground with special equipment and access for children with disabilities. At Serafeio, there is also a model playground for children from 1 year old and teenagers, accessible to people with disabilities.
The Municipality also has municipal libraries accessible to people with mobility problems:
- The Children’s – Adolescent Library located at the Park for the Child and Culture (Trifylias and Lampsa, Ampelokipoi, 2106929736) which is aimed at children aged 6-15.
- The Infant-Toddler Library of the City of Athens is located in the same area and is the first library in Greece designed exclusively for children 0-6 years old (Trifylias and Lampsa, Ampelokipoi, 2106929735)
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The Children’s Library for children 0-14 years old at Larissis Station (Domokou 2, 2108810884)
- The Children’s Library of Larissis Station (Domokou 2, 2108236635) and
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The Ioanneios Library (Panormou 59 in Ampelokipoi, 2106983905)
Read more information about the Libraries here: https://www.cityofathens.gr/where/vivliothiki/
Most of the Municipality’s cultural venues are wheelchair accessible, such as the Municipal Gallery, the “Melina” cultural center in Thissio, the “Eleftherios K. Venizelos” Museum, the Digital Museum of Plato’s Academy, the Olympia Municipal Musical Theater “Maria Callas”, the Grava open theater, the Arts Center, etc.
Also accessible are the Creative Learning Centers of Grava, Nordau, and Kato Petralona.
And of course, all areas of Technopolis (indoor/outdoor/auxiliary areas like toilets etc.) are accessible to people with disabilities. Additionally, in every major event (concerts/festivals), special areas are designated for people with disabilities so they can watch and participate unaffected. The Industrial Gas Museum offers an original sensory route that turns knowledge into an exciting experience, where one can learn the history of the old factory through the magical world of the senses. https://gasmuseum.gr/index.php/episkepsi-sto-mouseio/diadromes-viomixanikou-mouseiou/aisthiriaki-diadromi
Since 1954, the City of Athens has been hosting children, disability associations, and senior citizens for free at the Summer Camp facilities in Agios Andreas, Attica. Regarding the infrastructure of the facilities for hosting disability associations, accessible dormitories have been constructed, while the kitchens and all other recreational areas (e.g., cinema, pool, cultural centers, etc.) are also accessible.
In all Infant and Daycare Centers of the Athens Municipal Nursery, there is the possibility of hosting children with special needs, with support from pediatricians and specialized staff (educators, psychologists, speech therapists, etc.). Regarding the specific category of people with mobility problems, 41 Centers have accessibility from the street up to the entrance of the Daycare Center. Our technical services are already planning and will implement in the near future the expansion of similar infrastructure to our other Daycare Centers.
Additionally, the Municipality’s Social Tutoring Center housed in the 41st Junior High School (Patmou 11-13) meets the accessibility requirements for people with disabilities, providing equal learning opportunities for all. Furthermore, the City of Athens created a total of 16 disabled parking spaces in the two municipal parking lots (Klafthmonos and Varvakeio).
What projects are being carried out in the city to make it more friendly and accessible to everyone?
830 «smart» sensors on ramps and crossings
The City of Athens seeks to put an end to illegal and anti-social parking of vehicles in the city by utilizing technology through the installation of 830 “smart” sensors at crossings and disabled ramps and a pioneering violation control system. The sensors have been installed so far at crossings and disabled ramps – from Alexandra Avenue, Kolonaki, and Omonia to Syntagma, Koukaki, and Pangrati – aiming to detect vehicles parking illegally on them.
Each sensor appears on an electronic map of the Municipal Police’s Central Violation Management System. Through the platform, data is received that “informs” about the status of the sensors and essentially about the occupation of the crossing or ramp by a vehicle. In this way, the operations center of the Municipal Police is informed in real time about the violations. Automatically, via mobile devices, municipal police officers within a 500-meter radius of the violation point are also notified. The data collected enables the Municipal Police to effectively organize its operational planning in the center and neighborhoods of Athens.
Reconstruction project of 410 sidewalks in the center and neighborhoods of Athens
With modern and safe sidewalks replacing the old ones, decades-old problems are addressed, providing significant “breathing room” to dozens of Athens neighborhoods that until now lacked basic infrastructure. Areas such as Agios Pavlos, Sepolia, Neos Kosmos, Kypseli, Agios Artemios, and Lambrini are getting new sidewalks, which feature high-quality non-slip tiles, ramps to facilitate People with Disabilities, and tactile paving for the movement of the blind.
Large program for creating infrastructure for people with disabilities in 257 school units.
Upon completion of the project, a total of 257 school units in all seven municipal districts of the city will acquire this infrastructure to improve the daily life of children with disabilities within their educational environment.
Specifically, new ramps will be created in 185 school units, while 236 schools will acquire functional and suitable WCs for people with disabilities. According to the planning, in 131 school complexes where, based on a study, it is not possible to place special ramps, either electric lifts, elevators, or portable mobile ramps will be constructed to ensure unobstructed access to all areas of the schools.
Road markings with special signage, 400 ramp positions for people with disabilities, ramps located in busy areas indicated by the municipal police. With the completion of new asphalt paving in the city, additional points will be marked.
4 accessible routes for people with visual disabilities and 4 routes for people with mobility disabilities within the city are now available in Greek and English on a -fully accessible- website https://accessibleroutes.thisisathens.org.
In addition, the City of Athens has designated 22 new disabled spaces which you can find on the map here map here.
Do people with disabilities have any exemptions from fixed obligations within the framework of the Municipality?
Yes, there are exemptions from municipal fees for individuals with over 80% disability, and under certain conditions*, a 50% reduction is made for the primary residence. *gross income up to €20,000 and the electricity bill in the name of the beneficiary.
Awareness campaigns
Equally important as the infrastructure projects is for all of us to become aware of the daily problems faced by people with disabilities in their movement around the city.
Since 2015, the City of Athens has established the month of March as “Month of Familiarization and Awareness Actions for Disability,” where events, experiential activities, and scientific workshops are organized in collaboration with relevant bodies active in the field of disability.
Which administrative services of the Municipality can a person with disability contact?
In the City of Athens, there is the Department of Equality Policies and Combating Discrimination of the Directorate of Social Solidarity, which provides counseling and social support to people with disabilities and their families. Specifically, it supports people with disabilities who contact the service seeking information about their rights, as well as their labor integration and rehabilitation after completing their education.
For the coordination and better service of people with disabilities, an electronic database has been created recording bodies and services, training centers, and disability associations. In this way, the Department acts as an information and networking service with relevant bodies and agencies.
Additionally, the Citizen Service Line “1595,” as well as the seven Citizen Service Centers (KEP) which meet accessibility standards for people with disabilities, aim to minimize effort and limit unnecessary travel to services, which contributes to a better quality of life for people with disabilities.
PROGRAMS – ACTIONS
Accessible sports
From Tuesday, December 3, 2024, and for eight months, children and adults with disabilities can participate in special physical education programs, implemented through the Culture, Sports & Youth Organization (OPANDA), στα at the swimming pools and the L. Alexandra Gym of the City of Athens, as well as the 13th Primary School of Athens. In detail:
Therapeutic swimming program for people with disabilities
Free therapeutic swimming lessons for individuals aged 5 – 65 with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, neuromuscular disorders, or traumatic experiences in water. Lessons are held at the Serafeio, Goudi, Grava, and Kolokynthou swimming pools by specialized Physical Education teachers, individually or in small groups, tailored to the needs of each participant. They are implemented within the framework of the “Sports for All” (PAgO) program of the General Secretariat of Sports.
Monday – Friday | 08:00–19:00, Saturday| 09:00–14:00 (by arrangement with a special physical education teacher).
Information
Program Coordinators: Avgoustini Papanikolaou (6977093906), Chrysa Paltatzidou (6946112553)
Swimming pool phones:
Serafeio: 210 3313334, Goudi: 210 7771990,
Kolokynthou: 210 5153725, Grava: 210 2282714
OPANDA Swimming Pools Department: 210 5284877, 210 5284878
Gymnastics programs for people with disabilities
Free specialized and group gymnastics programs for individuals aged 7 – 45 with mobility problems, intellectual disability, ADHD, and autism. The lessons are adapted to the needs and abilities of each participant and aim at improving physical well-being as well as motor-intellectual and cognitive skills.
L. Alexandra Gym (152 L. Alexandra Ave.): Tuesday & Thursday | 16:30–21:30
13th Primary School of Athens (13 Stilponos St.): Monday, Wednesday & Friday | 16:30–21:30 | Saturday| 09:30–14:30
Information: 210 5284873, 210 6444579
Accessible education
“HEPHAESTUS” Educational Program
The City of Athens is one of the first Municipalities to implement the “HEPHAESTUS” pilot training-of-trainers program, which aimed for municipal employees to acquire skills in order to act as multipliers for the acceptance and integration of people with disabilities and the improvement of their daily living conditions.
Part of the educational process was the animation workshop, with the support of Animasyros, which resulted in the video: “How do we communicate with disability?”. Watch the video at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myxVMriJCAE
Specialized supportive employment, information, and training programs | Technopolis City of Athens & Nevronas
Technopolis City of Athens collaborates with NEVRONAS to implement specialized supportive employment, training, and information programs regarding disability, neurodiversity, accessibility, and inclusion. The goal of the collaboration is to create an inclusive workspace, with an emphasis on the integration of employees with disabilities and the awareness of their non-disabled colleagues. At the same time, a study and evaluation are being conducted to make the necessary adjustments so that Technopolis of the City of Athens becomes even more friendly to people with obstacles.
Furthermore, within the framework of the accessibility strategy, a working group has been established at the City of Athens, the “Accessibility and Inclusion Group,” with the aim of networking with disability organizations, recording needs, and developing applications to guide people with disabilities to accessible areas of the city. Through these initiatives, the Municipality aims to make Athens a more accessible city, claiming the “Athens European Accessible City” distinction within the framework of the Access City Award.
Accessible culture
Pioneering tours for people with visual impairments and visual disabilities are held at the Gallery, as well as tours in Greek Sign Language.
At the “Aggeliki Chatzimichali” Museum of Folk Art and Tradition, in addition to tours for people with visual and hearing disabilities, tours have been conducted for people with psychosocial difficulties and people on the autism spectrum by the Accessibility and Inclusion Group.
- Tours for people with visual impairments, visual disabilities, and interpretation in Greek Sign Language | Municipal Gallery of Athens, Building B, Leonidou & Millerou, Avdi Sq., Metaxourgeio
Information: 210-5202420, 210-3243023, Tuesday to Saturday 11:00-19:00, Sunday 10:00-16:00, Monday closed - Special tours | “Aggeliki Chatzimichali” Museum of Folk Art and Tradition
The “Aggeliki Chatzimichali” Museum of Folk Art and Tradition has already hosted people with sensory disabilities, as well as groups with psychosocial difficulties and people on the autism spectrum, promoting accessibility and inclusion in culture.
In addition to the set tour dates, there is the possibility for groups to request a tour.
“Aggeliki Chatzimichali” Museum of Folk Art and Tradition, 6 Agg. Chatzimichali St., Plaka
Information: 210 3243987, 210 3243972, Tuesday to Friday 11:00 – 16:00, Saturday and Sunday 10:00 – 15:00, Monday closed.
SafeAthens: The new pioneering application of the City of Athens
Face the danger… with the press of a button! The first application in Greece also for our deaf fellow citizens H. Doukas: «We provide a powerful tool that can function as a complete digital shield of protection»
The City of Athens, wanting to strengthen the sense of security of its citizens, presents SafeAthens. The innovative application developed by DAEM enables anyone moving within the boundaries of the Municipality to immediately report a series of potential emergencies or natural disasters they may face in their daily life.
The application was presented for the first time on 3/12/2024, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, during the meeting of the Mayor of Athens, Haris Doukas, with the President of the Federation of the Deaf of Greece (OMKE), Konstantinos Simpsis, and the General Secretary of OMKE, Ioannis Stoufis.
The Mayor of Athens noted: «Safety is the top good, the inalienable right of every citizen. In this direction, we provide for free a complete digital shield of protection. The SafeAthens application is also the first in Greece aimed at our deaf fellow citizens. It is an important tool in order for them to feel more secure in their daily lives. With the press of a button, the user can easily inform their loved ones and the competent authorities, providing their exact geographical location and asking for help».
The CEO of DAEM, Lazaros Karaoulis, stated: «The DAEM team utilized the most modern geolocation and data management technologies for the development of the SafeAthens application, offering citizens a tool of high technical excellence and reliability. Our design focused on user-friendliness, ensuring privacy and connection with critical services, making the application a real ally in our daily security».
The application allows the user to notify via SMS (or push notification):
- Their close contacts, providing their location and movement on a map (live tracking).
- The police in cases of attack, sending their location, movement on a map (live tracking), and personal details.
- Their selected contacts to confirm they are well at any time, either after overcoming a danger or for daily updates.
- Their selected contacts for help, by shaking the device, with information about their location and movement on a map (live tracking. Ideal for those who want more daily security.
In addition, the user can:
- activate the alarm, drawing the attention of those around them in order to offer help in case of emergency. If the alarm remains activated for 30 seconds, it automatically sends an SMS or, if the contacts have the application, it sends a push notification to the selected contacts, including their location and movement on a map (live tracking).
- make a virtual call, showing that they are talking to a close person. This function can be used proactively in cases of potential danger, as the user will appear not to be alone, creating the sense that a “witness” is listening.
You can view and download the SafeAthens application at the link: https://safeathens.gr/