Recognizing strategies to deliver more accessible and inclusive real estate

“We believe that accessibility benefits all.” – Access4you

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 1.3 billion people, or about 16% of the global population, have a significant disability. People with disabilities face challenges such as those relating to accessibility in buildings and transportation, and “have twice the risk of developing conditions such as depression, asthma, diabetes, stroke, obesity or poor oral health.”

While many buildings accommodate a variety of individuals with distinct needs and abilities, many others are not designed with these unique requirements in mind. Wayfinding, or knowing how to follow a navigational route, is fundamental for autonomy, social integration and community access for all individuals. Reliable accessibility information can aid individuals in navigating new places confidently and also benefits others, such as parents with baby strollers, the elderly, those with temporary impairments, and even people with heavy luggage.

Now, Access4you, a leading social impact organisation that audits, certifies and qualifies the accessibility of the built environment for diverse disability groups, has been included as a published Alternative Adherence Path (AAP) under the WELL Building Standard (WELL v2) accessibility feature. An AAP is a formal request for approval and technical guidance to use an alternative strategy to comply with a specific feature.

Specifically, real estate segments such as retail shopping centers and commercial office buildings achieving Access4you Bronze Certification can earn points in the WELL Building Standard’s Community concept C13 feature about Accessibility and Universal Design. The C13 feature requires projects to integrate universal design and wayfinding principles to accommodate diverse needs and create a more inclusive environment. The Access4you Certification at the Bronze level is now recognized as an equivalency for WELL feature C13, giving WELL clients a new pathway for compliance.

Access4you certification is awarded to locations based on meeting the minimum requirements of multiple stakeholder groups. These minimum requirements are customized for more than 16 real estate sectors to accommodate their unique characteristics and provide alignment with standards and usability aspects (e.g., ISO 21542). The Access4you certification indicates that detailed and verified accessibility information is available to the public on its website and app for a specific location, demonstrating a commitment to provide a more inclusive built environment for those who need it most. This information aids people with accessibility needs in planning visits to an unfamiliar place and building owners to improve accessibility and meet business and sustainability objectives. Location profiles include measurements and photos pertaining to 8+1 groups: wheelchair users, the Elderly and people with limited mobility, the visually/hearing impaired, those with cognitive issues, pram users and service dog owners.
To achieve Access4you Bronze Certification the requirements are: the main functions and services can be used by wheelchair users, and at least one type of visually disabled group (blind or visually impaired); and one type of hearing-impaired group (deaf or hard of hearing); and by one other identified group’s need must be met.

“IWBI and Access4you are working together to create a more accessible, and therefore, a more inclusive, human-centric world,” said Balázs Berecz, Founder and CEO of Access4you, who has been a wheelchair user since 2005. “By providing accessibility information to people with disabilities, Access4you enables WELL to directly contribute to the inclusion of people with special needs.”

WELL v2 is the latest iteration of the WELL Building Standard, the world’s premier building rating system that provides actionable strategies for health and well-being at the building, organizational and community levels. Today, more than 74,000 commercial and residential locations in 138 countries are using WELL, representing nearly 6 billion square feet of space. In addition, more than 180 companies in the Global 500 and Fortune 500 are using WELL to demonstrate health leadership and support their annual reporting.

“We’re pleased to recognize Access4you Bronze Certification as an equivalency within the WELL Standard,” said Ann Marie Aguilar, Senior Vice President, EMEA, International WELL Building Institute. “WELL v2’s evidence-based and technically robust interventions were developed based on global principles that celebrate people for who they are and provide the tools they need to thrive. Access4you contributes meaningfully to WELL by benefitting a variety of people, thereby expanding accessibility and advancing well-being for everyone.”

Access4you and IWBI introduced the new equivalency on a featured webcast, with speakers hailing from across Europe. To view the recording and learn more, click here.

Access4you is a social impact company. It is a data-driven system that audits, certifies, and qualifies the accessibility of the built environment in 16 real estate segments for 8+1 groups with accessibility needs: Wheelchair users; the Elderly and people with limited mobility; the Blind; visually impaired people, the Deaf, the hard of hearing; people with cognitive impairments; people with baby strollers; and people with service dogs.

Properties can achieve a Certified location, Bronze, Silver, or Gold Certification based on the level of inclusion. The company provides the on-site collected, detailed, and verified data to the building owner, its investor, tenants, and end-users living with disabilities. The on-site audit provides detailed development proposals to the owner so the property may become more accessible. It provides information to individuals with disabilities so they can confidently visit the property. It supports companies in developing their level of inclusion and accessibility and enhancing their business and ESG goals through certified social sustainability data. Access4you has audited 1000 buildings in 23 countries and operates in the CEE, SEE, and India with the help of an accredited partner network.