In the framework of the implementation of the "Accessible EU Resource Center" project, which is a flagship initiative of the European Commission's Strategy for the rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030, in collaboration with the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (EU. S.A.meA) and the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT), a hybrid event was organized today at the "Titania" Hotel, in which the Vice-Rector of Finance, Planning and Developmentof the University of Piraeus, Professor Stella Sofianopoulou, participated with her speech.
The Vice-Rector Professor Stella Sofianopoulou referred to the efforts made by the University of Piraeus, through the Accessibility Unit, in order to facilitate the access of students, members of the educational community, workers and visitors with special access requirements, by supporting physical accessibility. She also referred to the actions and practices implemented by the Faculty of Information Technology and Communications of the University relating to supportive IT technologies for digital accessibility.
Special mention to the research groups and the important results of the Telecommunications Networks and Integrated Services laboratories led by the Dean of the School, Professor Ilias Maglogiannis, related to the creation of a tool to automatically convert sign language symbols into sound, so that people without knowledge of sign language can communicate with hearing impaired people (HealthSign project). In addition, a special note was for the Library of the University of Piraeus, which, with appropriate equipment and infrastructure, ensures equal access of students with different needs and requirements to study and learn.
In addition to the work related to the educational process, the University of Piraeus implements actions related to psycho-emotional support, career counseling, the organization of seminars for targeted audiences and the training of volunteers of the "Kerykes" team of the University of Piraeus, to provide support .
The event was coordinated by Katerina Papamichail (ENAT) & Dimitris Logaras (NCDP), AccessibleEU National Experts.
The event was greeted by Prof. Dimosthenis Anagnostopoulos, Secretary General for Information Systems and Digital Governance - Ministry of Digital Government, Marily Christofi, Second Vice President of the National Accessibility Authority (NAA) and Vassilis Koutsianos, Secretary General of the National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (NCDP).
The presentation of the "European Accessibility Resource Center-AccessibleEU" Project and its contribution to the promotion of accessibility at the European and national level was made by Ivor Ambrose, AccessibleEU Senior Expert (ENAT)
Participating with speeches were
Lenoussa Holeva, Head of the Built Environment Planning & Control Implementation Directorate and President of the Central Accessibility Committee - Ministry of Environment and Energy, Claire Dima, March Architect, Director of Technical Services of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE), Ioannis Garanis, Mayor of Komotini and Giorgis Marinakis, Mayor of Rethymno, Sissy Mamai, Head of the Department of Digital Accessibility & Social Affairs - Ministry of Digital Governance, Betty Armeni, Head of the Department of Urban Mobility, Accessibility & Environment of the Department of Transportation Planning OASA , Maria Kapralou, Head of Assistance for Disabled Passengers - Athens International Airport A.E. , Efthymia Korra, Executive of Unit A1 of the Special Program Management Service "Competitiveness", Alexandros Mourouzis, Accessibility Expert - National Confederation of Persons with Disabilities (NCDP). Katerina Papamichail, Accessibility Expert - European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) and Efi Kalaboukidou, President of the Board of Directors. European Federation of Guide Associations (FEG).
The event was attended by representatives of national, regional and local Authorities, service providers from the public and private sector and organizations of people with disabilities and other user groups.