The approach to updating legislation in the light of international requirements has been appropriate for several decades, but inconsistency has occurred in translating this rather complex area into practice. The lack of training of the planning profession and the general public is, of course, also reflected in a lack of respect for, or knowledge of, the rather complex legislation in this area when planning new buildings or renovating buildings.
Education on universal construction is still not included in the curricula of the faculties of architecture, urban planning and civil engineering. This leads to a lack of knowledge of the legislation and standards on the part of the designers themselves, which in turn affects the adequacy and quality of the adaptations made, or the lack thereof.
Investment and financial support for the actual removal of barriers has also been insufficient and unsystematic over the last 15 years of the Act on the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (EODA). We are less than a year away from the deadline, and it is more than evident that no major developments have taken place in the field that would be necessary for us to be able to talk about the accessibility of all types of public facilities for all people, regardless of their disabilities.
As the deadline approaches, some progress has already begun to be made in this area, and we hope that this will intensify.