Infrastructure to enhance the physical accessibility of the Agricultural University of Athens

Infrastructure to enhance the physical accessibility of the Agricultural University of Athens

The projects to strengthen and improve physical accessibility have been successfully completed at the Agricultural University of Athens, which aim to support the equal participation of students with disabilities in all educational processes and, therefore, to increase their on-time graduation rate.

The Agricultural University of Athens includes 28 building complexes whose accessibility for people with disabilities is low. To remedy the existing situation, gradual improvement of accessibility was chosen, starting from the most important and most needed buildings for students. In this context:

1. as the first building, the Central Building of the University was chosen where, in addition to the administrative services, there are four auditoriums in which courses are held, classrooms, laboratories, professors' offices, the European Programs-Erasmus office (ground floor), the multi-purpose room (second floor) but also the ceremony hall (first floor) where students' confessions take place. Thus, an electric elevator was installed in the Central Building of the University which connects the Ground Floor with the Basement. The elevator, among other things, now serves to utilize the specially designed sanitary area for people in wheelchairs, in the basement. In addition, it was necessary to install a metal ramp of appropriate dimensions at the central entrance (facade) of the Administration building. Thus, the University's central building is now accessible to students in wheelchairs on all its floors.
2. In order all the students to obtain access to feeding, an electric elevator was installed in the building of the University Restaurant - Canteen.
3. Two parking spaces for disabled vehicles were marked, with special markings, right outside the Central Administration Building, next to the elevator.
4. Following visits to the three branches of the Agricultural University of Athens (formerly TEI of Central Greece), it was found that the Amfissa and Thebes buildings are 100% accessible to people in wheelchairs, unlike the Karpenissi building. To remedy this situation, an electric elevator was installed at the front-entrance of the Karpenisi building.

Improving the physical accessibility of the Agricultural University continues to be a major issue and priority for its administration. Thus, in the coming years, even more corrective interventions will be implemented, in order to increase the accessibility rate of the University.