AUTHOR: MARIA CHRONOPOULOU | PHOTOGRAPHY: GEORGE STRAVOLEMOS
– How exactly was the Prosvasis initiative created?
– In October 2012, we were a group of students from the University of Patras, willing to challenge ourselves, and we decided to take part in a competition for innovation and entrepreneurship. We had noticed that people in wheelchairs abroad got out and about and were active in their everyday lives. That was the reason that we asked ourselves how many of our fellow compatriots there were in wheelchairs in Greece, and the percentage in relation to the population of the country. We were surprised to find out that the percentage of disabled people in Greece, compared to other countries abroad, was high. And unfortunately, we do not see these people in our cities because there is no infrastructure adapted for them. And I am not just referring to people in wheelchairs, but to all forms of disability concerning movement and diseases that make life harder. We started our research at the Hephaistos Sports Club at Patras, asking questions to people of our age—like where they go out for example—and they told us that there wasn’t a tool for them. So we decided to create a platform with accessible spots. We started compiling places in Patras and at the same time building the platform, talking to the users themselves, because we did not know what their needs were. What I say very often is that, basically, the product was created by them, we just added the technological dimension.
– Do you think that dealing with disability is a matter of education?
– For sure. Prosvasis has also given us training on education over the years. We began to think a little differently than before and to see places through the eyes of a person who has difficulty in moving. Now if I go to a café and I see that there is a ramp, I think about adding it to the platform, because that way I will help other people. Since we have the habit of sharing a lot of stuff online every day, even our moods, we felt it is important to share something that can help our fellow man. By creating the platform, we found supporters in our effort and we developed a network of people who share their knowledge on accessibility online.
– Recently, your project “Accessible Paths” was given an award by the President of Greece. What is this project about?
– On the occasion of the platform’s anniversary, we created the project “Accessible Paths”, where we also participate, by mapping cities in Greece to increase the database of accessible places. In addition, we also inform the citizens and the local authorities of the cities we visit, where there is also contact with the users of our platform who are, themselves, disabled persons. This way, citizens can understand more easily what accessibility means. In the framework of this project, the platform has been upgraded in order to be more functional and now there is also a mobile app. This project is carried out with the exclusive donations of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, starting with the first Greek cities that were mapped, and we hope it will continue beyond the Greek borders, as well.
– How are you doing the mapping?
– For mapping, we use a simple questionnaire, where we mention the category—if it is a store, if there is a ramp at the entrance, if it is accessible from the pavement and the most important one, if there is a toilet, because most (places) do not have any. We also map pedestrian areas. At all mapping places we try to have an image so that the user is informed. If, for example, a cafeteria is inaccessible (for example, there are stairs) but it has a flat exterior space that is used, then we highlight it and it is good for the user to be able to see an image.
– How did Accessible Booking emerge?
– It came from the desire of hoteliers to put their accommodation on a search engine, so the booking could be there. Already, several hoteliers were asking us how much it would cost to advertise on our platform. But because Prosvasis is a non-profit social project, we created Accessible Booking for this purpose.
– Is there a similar initiative to yours abroad?
– We have done a little research and we have found a similar platform in France by a NGO, which is, however, a little more complicated and not so functional. We have not found anything like this in other countries, and because of our cooperation with the US Embassy in Greece, we understand that there are not enough tools. Initially, we also believed that there would already be something like this, but it seems that it may not have been in the world’s priorities to think about something for a particular population group that wants to be helped.
– You are truly innovative and pioneering.
– It’s not our brainchild, but the truth is that we have not met anything similar. Neither our users have said they are using a tool other than our platform. Certainly a better platform can be created in the future, but we do it as a good practice, offering also a service.
– Do you have any plans for the future, apart from developing Prosvasis and Accessible Booking?
– Our vision is to get trained as much as possible in the field of accessibility and accessible tourism. Beyond our goal of increasing our database, with as many places as possible, we would like Prosvasis to become an exclusive mapping platform and, in combination with tourism, to be able to create a product exclusively for accessible tourism.
