The opening was announced at a press briefing by the Government Plenipotentiary for Disabled Persons Paweł Wdówik. Details were presented also by Michał Kuczmierowski, the President of the Governmental Strategic Reserves Agency (RARS), which made the purchases and will send and maintain the equipment, and by Krzysztof Michałkiewicz, the President of the National Fund for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities (PFRON), which will receive and verify applications and coordinate actions.

"It is an important day that will make a major change in access to highly advanced support technologies as well as expensive and difficult to find equipment or software. It will provide for free-of-charge use of solutions designed to compensate for the effects of disability,"
 said Deputy Minister Paweł Wdówik.

Chance to have a more independent life

He added that such a solution was known in many European countries, but in Poland the possibility to have access to advanced vision, hearing, mobility or communication aids was still a novelty. 

"It is a chance for persons with disability to have a more independent life," emphasised Deputy Minister Wdówik. 

He commented further that the purchases had been preceded by an analysis of needs, the list had been shown to the Chair of the National Consultation Council for Disabled Persons, and that the equipment had been selected by experts and specialists named also by her. The President of the Governmental Strategic Reserves Agency Michał Kuczmierowski added that further orders for equipment for the disabled would be placed under the public procurement law, whereas the latest ones, processed in accordance with the RARS operating rules, raised no reservations on the part of the controlling institutions. 

From wheelchairs to software 

The rental shop offers more than 14,000 items of equipment, including wheelchairs and scooters for reduced-mobility persons, Braille notepads, enlargers and high-technology hearing aids and the AAC technology for persons who are unable to communicate in a standard manner.

Persons interested in renting the equipment can apply via the PFRON. Every device rented is subject to a security deposit of 2% of its value. The deposit is refundable and is only aimed to promote proper care of the equipment among the users.

Interested persons with disabilities, or guardians in the case of children and persons placed under guardianship, can apply for renting the support technologies through the PFRON. The application form will be available in the Support System on the PFRON website. 

The resources of the rental shop will be gradually expanded, with PLN 49 million scheduled for further purchases next year.