The National Information Centre Info-Handicap welcomes the new mobile app for the Adapto service but regrets that there was no test phase beforehand. The app is already available for download on smartphones and tablets and will become operational on Wednesday.
Yannick Breuer, accessibility coordinator at Info-Handicap, stated that it remains to be seen how well the app actually works. Since there was no testing phase, Breuer expects the app to have a few bugs during its initial launch phase. What Info-Handicap does expect is improvements compared to the previous app, which had several flaws, especially for blind people, who make use of a specific function on their smartphones to read text out loud.
Another problem was that the old app did not allow people to call their driver, which meant that users could not notify the driver if they were running late, leading to some people missing their Adapto transport, Breuer explained.
One major improvement is that from Wednesday onwards, users will be able to book a trip on the day they need it. Initially, this function will only be available via phone call, but in a few weeks, it will also be available via online reservation through the app. This is also in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, which stipulates that everyone must be able to participate in everyday life.
Since the reform of the Adapto service, numerous people and organisations have criticised the fact that people have lost access to the service, despite still needing it. Breuer agrees with the criticism, stating that some people are still falling through the cracks.
The accessibility coordinator cites the example of people who have a driving licence, but experience days when they are unable to drive. According to Breuer, this is for instance the case of people suffering from multiple sclerosis, whose physical condition can vary from day to day. For them and others in similar situations, Breuer argues, it would be a good thing if they could use the Adapto service, despite having a valid driving licence.
While there is no regulation stipulating that people must not have a driving licence to be able to use the Adapto service, it is often a problem in practice, Breuer states. People applying for access to the Adapto service are often called in for a medical examination when it is discovered that they still have a driving licence. In a lot of cases, applicants will then have to hand over their driving licence, even though this does not then automatically grant them access to the Adapto, Breuer explains. If the Ministry thinks that they are still able to use public transport, their application will still be denied, according to Breuer.
If people find themselves in such a situation, Info-Handicap recommends that they write a letter to the Ministry of Mobility to appeal the decision. On the other hand, Breuer stresses, the responsible commission within the Ministry also needs to be improved.
Ideally, there should be one person to represent the blind, one person to represent the deaf, one person to represent people with a cognitive handicap, one for people with physical disabilities, and one general representative of people with disabilities, Breuer suggests.
Currently, there is only one person in the commission, who is supposed to represent all needs at once – "not ideal", according to Yannick Breuer from Info-Handicap.
