Welcome to Slovakia
EuroCurrency in Slovakia
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Basic Country Profile
Location: Central Europe
Capital: Bratislava
Population: 5.5 million
Major language: Slovak
Major religion: Christianity
Currency: Euro
Climate: Continental with warm, dry summers and cold winters
Terrain: Mountainous in the north and flat in the south
Dial code: +421 Time zone: GMT+1
Emergency numbers:
Universal number – 112 Fire brigade – 150 Police – 158
Ambulance – 155
Users with disabilities can access the emergency services by SMS to 112.
Disability Legislations and Policies
Slovakia ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in May 2010. People with disabilities faces pecific problems in the mixed private/public welfare system in Slovakia that move beyond those characteristic of neo liberal reform.
Despite ratifying the UN CRPD, Slovakia has not ultimately taken the necessary measures to ensure that people with disabilities are able to reap benefits of Slovak citizenship. While the intent of active employment policies, such as the NAPS, may be to boost economic independence through labor market participation, there is insufficient policy framework to ensure access to the paid labor that the policy seeks to promote.
The constitution and the law prohibit discrimination based on race, gender, disability, language, sexual orientation or gender identity, or social status; the government made efforts to enforce these prohibitions. At the same time very few children with disabilities are in mainstream schools, particularly children with intellectual or psycho-social disabilities.
There is some important work being started to promote inclusion, but this often depends on the good will and efforts of individual schools, parents and others, but are not the result of a systemic approach.
Travel Related Information
In Slovakia, there are at present three museums where visitors who are blind can move around independently and enjoy a guided tour using sound information from terminals, Braille or other relief descriptions as well as many touch-based sensations from accessible models of buildings, replicas and artifacts. These are the Archaeological exhibition of the Slovak National Museum in Bratislava, the open-air museum and the castle in StaráĽubovňa. Parts of the exhibitions in Bratislava castle, Bojnice castle, the Natural History exhibition of the SNM in Bratislava and the Speleological museum in LiptovskýMikuláš.
When using public transport, the accessibility of stations, bus stops, platforms and terminals using natural guide lines, 3D markings for people who are blind and acoustic signals is of utmost importance.
The Slovak Rail company now systematically equips all new buildings and renovated areas with these measures. Airports are gradually following, however, these measures are rare in bus transport.
Hotels and restaurants have few ramps or barrier-free rooms. Large chain hotels are the best bet for accessible rooms; there are options in Bratislava and spa town Piešťany.
Central Bratislava is navigable by wheelchair, though pavements are far from universally smooth. It’s best to have a companion for steep-access sights like the castle. There’s some accessibility on public transport, including buses that lower, and special seating.