Over the course of a number of years structural improvements have been made to the Parliament Building to make this historic building more accessible. One of the main measures has been the installation of ramps and lifts to enable people with limited mobility to access all areas of the Parliament Building. This is a key requirement for both visitors and members of parliament who use wheelchairs. The lectern in the National Council chamber and the seats of the presidents in both chambers are now wheelchair accessible, for example.
The Parliamentary Services and the Federal Office for Buildings and Logistics have also taken measures to meet the needs of people with visual or hearing impairments. The signage in the building has been adapted and the elevators have been equipped with voice announcement systems. For the blind and partially sighted a brochure about Parliament is also available in Braille. Information about Parliament and its history can also be accessed via an audio app.
All these measures are part of a comprehensive renovation plan and are being developed in close consultation with various disability organisations. The aim is to make Parliament as barrier-free as possible for everyone. The infrastructure of the Parliament Building is being upgraded to meet the latest accessibility standards, while taking into account the building’s heritage.
