The Municipality of Hilversum is launching the ‘Accessible SME Route’ together with Ongehinderd.
This initiative helps entrepreneurs make their shop, bar, hotel, café, or museum more accessible to people with disabilities. “Accessibility affects us all. It is a basic prerequisite for being able to participate fully in society. I want people with disabilities in Hilversum to simply be able to say: I’m going to the city. Without having to figure out all sorts of things first,” says Jacqueline Kalk, Alderwoman for Inclusion.
According to figures from the RIVM, about 1 in 8 Dutch people aged 12 and older (12,9%) experience a moderate or severe visual, hearing, or mobility impairment. For many of these people, simply popping into a shop or restaurant is not that straightforward. Does a rollator fit in the fitting room, is there room for a wheelchair at the tables, and what about the toilets? The MKB Toegankelijke Route maps out which locations are physically accessible so that people with disabilities know what to expect.
The results will be available in the Ongehinderd app and on the website. www.ongehinderd.nl
In addition, participating entrepreneurs receive advice from Ongehinderd on how to make their business more accessible.
Entrepreneurs in Hilversum can participate for free. An expert from Ongehinderd assesses the accessibility of the location against the criteria of the Dutch Accessibility Quality Mark. This results in a report with practical tips and advice, and for businesses that are highly accessible, a bronze, silver, or gold quality mark. All participants are listed in the SME Accessible Route via the Ongehinderd app and website. Participation and listing in the app are free for the first year. After that year, this can be renewed for €50 per year.
Entrepreneurs can register via mkbtoegankelijk@ongehinderd.nl
The SME Accessible Route in Hilversum is a collaboration between Ongehinderd, MKB-Nederland, VNO-NCW, and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. This initiative aligns with the municipal policy document on Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination. The policy is comprehensive: inclusion must permeate everything the municipality does, from the way services are organized to the design of public spaces.
Read more about the inclusion policy
The municipality is still looking for residents with a disability who want to help with the project as volunteers. They assess locations or engage in discussions with entrepreneurs. Before volunteers start, they are trained by Ongehinderd.
You can register via: www.ongehinderd.nl/ambassadeur