18th June 2025
After an investigation by the the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson, shopping center Maxima, located on Šaltkalvių Street in Vilnius, has installed an elevator to improve accessibility for people with mobility disabilities.
The investigation, initiated in 2023, followed reports that the second floor of the Naujininkai Maxima store was only accessible by stairs, posing a significant barrier for customers with mobility disabilities. Experts confirmed this to be an insurmountable obstacle.
Maxima representatives had initially stated that an elevator existed, but the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson determined it was inaccessible, being located in auxiliary premises and intended for cargo. The store also offered to have employees collect goods for customers unable to reach the second floor, but this service was not publicly announced and was deemed an insufficient alternative to independent shopping.
Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson Birutė Sabatauskaitė said that the store had failed to ensure accessible services and recommended creating dignified shopping conditions for individuals with mobility disabilities.
The Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson recently confirmed that Maxima has implemented the necessary changes. The newly installed elevator is now accessible to all individuals without restrictions, addressing the previous accessibility issues. B. Sabatauskaitė expressed hope that this improvement at the Naujininkai Maxima would encourage both the company and other service providers in buildings not adapted for vulnerable groups to take similar action.
She further noted that despite legal frameworks aimed at ensuring equal opportunities, the rights of people with disabilities are frequently violated due to unsuitable infrastructure and physical barriers in public spaces, including shops, restaurants, schools, and public transport.
Last year, the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsperson received 60 complaints concerning possible discrimination based on disability, out of 350 applications from various residents.