Innovative Practice 2018 on Accessibility
A sucessful business model to train service providers in accessibility
Name of Innovative Practice: | A sucessful business model to train service providers in accessibility |
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Organisation: | Access Israel |
Country of Implementation | Israel |
PROBLEMS TARGETED
SOLUTION, INNOVATION, AND IMPACT
Access Israel’s trainings consist of a preparatory session to understand the accessibility conditions and all accessibility-related complaints within a particular organization, and it then offers customized training solutions. In this way, solutions for every budget can be found.
All trainings are experiential and innovative, e.g., workshops in which participants experience what it is like to walk in a disabled person’s shoes; and simulations of accessible services performed by disabled instructors, whereby service providers are given immediate and practical tools to provide accessible service. To follow-up the successful implementation of theses trainings, Access Israel sends people with disabilities as customers to check the level of improvement regarding accessibility and quality of service.
In all trainings there are four pillars to remove the barriers and enable true integration:
- Increasing knowledge on disability, accessibility, and the specific accessibility arrangements within the organization.
- Breaking the glass wall: All activities include people with disabilities who speak for themselves, thus enabling participants to get to know the person behind the disability.
- Experiencing disabilities first-hand.
- Paying it forward: Providing tools to make a change in the services provided and the integration of people with disabilities possible.
OUTLOOK, TRANSFERABILITY AND FUNDING

In about two thirds of the cases the service providers pay for the training; and for one third Access Israel finds grants, governmental agencies, or ministries that help by subsidizing.
The project was well received at the 2016 UN Habitat III Conference in Ecuador, and the organization has received requests to perform their trainings at the next conference in New York City in 2018. Additionally, Access Israel will provide trainings for service providers in June 2018, also in New York.