Solaris trains its constructors for the benefit of the disabled

The constructors from the Research and Development Department of Solaris Bus & Coach company participated in a training course on disability issues related to using public means of transport. The meeting was held by Krzysztof Stern, the founder of the ‘Jedna chwila’ (‘One moment’) association.

The course took place on 11^th May 2017 in the headquarter of the bus manufacturer in Bolechowo-Osiedle and has been divided into two modules. The theoretical part included a multimedia presentation regarding the issues and difficulties encountered by people with disabilities when using public transport. The practical module has been made of workshops for Solaris employees as well as the foundation’s members. During the workshops, the constructors had an opportunity to reiterate the perspective of people with different types of disabilities (e.g. by using wheelchair) in order to raise the understanding of the obstacles that may arise when using public transportation.

‘The cooperation with the ‘Jedna Chwila’ Association suits the pro-health and road safety improvement educational initiatives that our Foundation supports. The amount of people moving in a wheelchair rises by a 1000 every year. We are determined to make the society aware of their need and demands’ – said dr Alicja Malewicz-Pełczyńska, Member of the Board of the Green Dachshund Foundation.

‘I am very grateful for this initiative and for an opportunity to make the bus constructors aware of the real life obstacles that people on wheelchairs meet on their everyday journey by the means of public transport. If the fully functional people realized in practice how different the perspective is for the disabled people and how different the types of muscle paralysis are, then the integration and an everyday life could be made much easier’ – stated Krzysztof Stern, the founder of the ‘Jedna Chwila’ association.

‘Such initiatives are very valuable as they help to realize that the amenities for the disabled are not figments but a real necessity. Solaris was the first to introduce low floor city buses on Polish market; therefore, we feel obliged to continuously improve our vehicles at this respect’ – noted Krzysztof Jarzembowski, Project Management Department Manager in Solaris Bus & Coach S.A.

The ‘Jedna chwila’ association was founded by Krzysztof Stern who suffered a severe traffic accident seven years ago and has been moving in a wheelchair since. The accident has motivated him to become involved in intense activities for the integration of the disabled in the urbanized city environment.

The meeting was organized within the cooperation with ‘Green Dachshund Foundation – for the rescue of the defenseless’ foundation, founded by Solange Olszewska, CEO of Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. Set up in 2012, the foundation aims to support those in need, as well as the entities operating in local community, such as hospitals, social assistance facilities, educational institutions or animal shelters.