Welcome to Poland
ZlotyCurrency in Poland
Today’s Weather
10
°C
06:25 AM
Wednesday
Basic Country Profile
Location: Central Europe
Capital: Warsaw
Population: 38.3 million
Major language: Polish
Major religion: Christianity
Currency: Zloty
Climate: Temperate with cold winters and warm summers
Terrain: mostly flat with mountains in the south
Dial code: +48
Time zone: GMT+2
Emergency numbers:
112 is an all-service number in Poland
Ambulance – 999
Fire brigade – 998
Police – 997
Warsaw public transportation – (22) 9484
Disability Legislations and Policies
The most important legal act on the rights of people with disabilities, incurring legal liability of the State Parties, is the international Convention of the United Nations on the Rights of People with Disabilities of 2006, ratified by Poland in 2012.
Disability is more prevalent in Poland than in any other country in the world, and the cost of the disability pension systems, and programs to encourage the employment of people with disabilities is among the highest in the world – over four percent of GDP. Too generous benefits, and lax enforcement, encourage abuse of the disability pension system. The quota-levy system interacts with the system of Supported Work Establishments to benefit entrepreneurs rather, more than people with disabilities.
www.documents.worldbank.org
The law prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, and the provision of other state services. Disabled persons, including people with intellectual disability, are under extensive legal protection on the grounds that they comprise a group particularly exposed to discrimination and social exclusion. For more information go to www.pzpr.eu/numery
Travel Related Information
The law requires buildings to be accessible for persons with disabilities. Other laws require retrofitting of existing buildings to provide accessibility.
In Warsaw and other major cities, public buildings and transportation generally are accessible. Outside of major metropolitan areas, accessibility is less available. In general, accessibility in Warsaw is far from amazing. The city isn’t perfectly wheelchair friendly, especially that there are many uneven pavements or inaccessible bus or tram stations. Since the situation’s slowly getting better, Warsaw might be on its way to becoming an accessible capital city. Each year, more trams and buses become accessible to manual and electric wheelchair users.
Read about the accessible tour by Accessible Poland Tours.
For accessible hotels in Poland go to www.disabledholidays.com
For wheelchair accessible tours visit
www.dignitytravel.biz
Most trains, buses and trams have ramps and are designed to accommodate people with mobility disabilities. Find information on accessible transportation in Warsaw go to www.wtp.waw.pl/en
All public transportation tickets can be purchased at ZTM points, in some newspaper kiosks and at ticket machines located in the metro stations, where tickets can be purchased with either cash or debit cards. For more information go to www.wtp.waw.pl
Information about travelling by public transport is also available at www.jakdojade.pl
Mobile App – Jakdojade.pl (Polish language only)
Go to the Polish Airlines website to read about the Assisted travel services & information.
Nie Pelno Sprawni up-to-date information on the current situation for people with disabilities in Poland (Polish language only).
Useful Links
Government Implementation of the Standard Rules
www.independentliving.org
Tips for Visiting Accessible Warsaw
https://spintheglobe.net
Gdansk accessible travel guide
https://blog.handiscover.com
Maps and diagrams of the public transport system
www.wtp.waw.pl/en/maps-schemas/