The winners of the Access City Award 2025 (Easy-to-read)

For example, a city is accessible when all people can easily: 

• Get the bus or the metro to go to work;
   
• Use ticket machines to buy a ticket; 

• Go around the streets or get in public buildings, like hospitals and city halls;

• Get information in ways that they can read and understand.

There are also awards for the 2 cities that came second and third in the competition.

Lastly, there are special mentions for other 2 cities that have done great work in certain areas. 

The winners are selected by groups of people who have experience in accessibility.

Persons with disabilities and older people are part of these groups.

Amongst others, this is because in Vienna:

• Trains and buses are accessible so that people can use them to get around. Also most of the bus and tram stops are accessible and people get information about their trip in different ways. For example, deaf people can get alerts in real-time in sign language.

• Any new buildings have to be accessible and easy to use by all people. Changes are made in older buildings too to adapt to the needs of different people. 

• People who make decisions for the city have made a plan aiming to make the city more accessible by 2030. To make this plan, they worked closely with organisations of persons with disabilities and listened to their views. 

• People can access public services online without having to go to the offices of the city hall.

• The city give money and other support to persons with disabilities to adapt their houses to their needs.

• The website of the city hall is accessible. For example, there is technology that reads the text aloud to people who are blind. There is also information in sign language for deaf people and in simple language for people with intellectual disabilities.

• The people who made decisions for the city have made a plan to make the rights in the UN Convention happen. The UN Convention is an important document that says what rights persons with disabilities have.

• The city works closely with organisations of persons with disabilities and listens to the views.

• There are festivals and theatres with artists with and without disabilities.

• Public spaces are easy to use by everyone. For example, there are zones without cars, accessible parks and beaches. 
   
• Information for tourists who visit the city are given in accessible ways. For example, in Braille for blind people. 

• The city asks for the views of persons with disabilities about how to make things more accessible for them. 

• The city tries to make sure events are accessible to persons with disabilities having dedicated space for them. Those who cannot go to the events can watch it online too.