The establishment of the first fully accessible citizen service office for persons with disabilities in Greece

The first fully accessible public service office for persons with disabilities was established within a Citizen Service Centre (KEP) in Panorama, Thessaloniki, Greece.

The initiative was developed by the Municipality of Pylaia-Chortiatis and aims to ensure that persons with different types of disabilities can access public services independently and on an equal basis.

The office combines physical, sensory and communication accessibility. The premises are accessible to wheelchair users and include accessible routes for blind people, with tactile guidance both inside and outside the building. The office also provides remote sign language interpretation through a tablet, enabling deaf and hard-of-hearing people to communicate effectively with staff. In addition, staff have received appropriate training to provide accessible services to persons with disabilities.

What makes this initiative particularly is that accessibility has been integrated into an existing mainstream public service, rather than creating a separate service exclusively for persons with disabilities. An existing Citizen Service Centre was adapted to ensure that the same public services can be accessed by everyone, regardless of disability.

The initiative demonstrates how public authorities can improve accessibility by combining accessible infrastructure, communication support, technology and staff training. It also provides a potentially replicable model for other municipalities and public services seeking to make their services more inclusive and accessible.

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