The first accessibility walk in the welfare area revealed development needs at Koivukylä Health Center

The accessibility walk was part of the welfare area's efforts to promote accessibility and user-friendliness in service facilities. Members of VAKE's disability services customer council, as well as representatives from the facilities center, disability services, and expert and development services, participated in the walk. During the tour, participants explored all floors of the B-staircase at Karsikkokuja 15, where the facilities for adult social work, dental care, and the developmental disability clinic are located. The route was planned to be short and easy to navigate, so that as many people as possible could participate. This allowed for a practical assessment of the accessibility of the facilities and the collection of direct feedback from their users.

During the walk, numerous challenges related to accessibility were observed. Most of the observations were related to the usability and design of the facilities. Finding the services was particularly challenging, as the signs were inadequate, partly outdated, and difficult to notice. Insufficient lighting in the facilities was also a problem. Dimly lit spaces are particularly challenging for individuals with visual impairments. Participants emphasized the importance of improving lighting and wished for the facilities to be clearer in both layout and signage. The most significant observation was related to the developmental disability clinic, which is located on the third floor of the B-staircase. Access to the clinic is only possible via a single elevator, which poses an accessibility issue if the elevator breaks down, as wheelchair users would not be able to reach the clinic at all.