The Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia (UIRS) conducts professional on-site assessments of building accessibility based on a methodology aligned with relevant legislation and standards. These assessments identify on-site barriers for all types of disabilities, with results made publicly available through online tools.

Temporary ramps are not legally recognized as a suitable solution because they do not provide independent and equal access. Their use is only justified in exceptional cases where permanent access cannot be ensured, and they must still meet the same safety standards as permanent ramps.

Heritage-protected buildings hold significant historical and architectural value, which often complicates their adaptation to modern needs, particularly in ensuring accessibility for all. Understanding heritage protection regimes and collaborating with the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia (ZVKDS) is essential, as well-planned solutions can often balance heritage preservation with accessibility.

Elevators must be designed to ensure accessibility for mobility-impaired, blind, visually impaired, and deaf individuals. Key features include appropriate dimensions, an accessible control panel, visible and tactile markings, auditory announcements, and videophones for deaf users.

In 2025, Slovenia will implement significant legal changes affecting accessibility for people with disabilities, including the Accessibility of Products and Services for Disabled Persons Act (ZDPSI) and the Equal Opportunities for Disabled Persons Act (ZIMI). These laws will require adjustments in various sectors, including products, services, and transportation, as well as the removal of physical barriers at train stations and on trains by December 2025, contributing to better inclusion of people with disabilities in society.

Correct shelf positioning, aisle widths and paths of movement between shelves are key to ensuring the accessibility of shops. Adaptations such as lower shelves and wider aisles make shopping easy for all, regardless of handicaps.

Awareness of accessibility of buildings is gradually increasing, helped by the approach of the legal deadline and the efforts of organisations and individuals in this field. The Urban Planning Institute of the Republic of Slovenia, with its long-standing work on data collection, training and awareness-raising, continues its efforts to improve accessibility, which will be necessary even after the legal deadline has passed.

Despite adequate legislation on universal construction, its implementation and the training of the planning profession remain deficient, affecting the quality of adaptations and their implementation in practice. While there are signs of progress as the deadline for meeting the requirements of the Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act approaches, investment and financial support to address barriers remain insufficient.
 

The Equalisation of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities Act requires all public buildings to be accessible by December 2025, but the current capacity and speed of adaptation is not sufficient to meet this target. Nevertheless, an extension of the deadline is unlikely.

The biggest accessibility issues are the lack of ramps, lifts or other solutions to accessibility problems, which often prevent wheelchair users from using the facilities. Also critical are the lack of contrastless signs for the blind and visually impaired, the lack of visual and auditory adaptations for the deaf and hard of hearing, and the difficulty of adaptations in buildings under the protection of cultural heritage, where cooperation with the ZVKDS is essential.