The website Heritage Abroad. Polonica Database is maintained by the National Institute of Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad (hereinafter: the Polonika Institute).

The Polonika Institute is committed to ensuring the accessibility of its website in accordance with the Act of 4 April 2019 on the Digital Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Entities (Journal of Laws 2019, item 848, as amended). This accessibility statement applies to the website of the National Institute of Polish Cultural Heritage Abroad – “Polonika”.

Website publication date: 6 March 2023
Date of the most recent significant update to this statement: 25 April 2024
Previous update dates: 10 December 2023, 26 March 2024

The website is partially compliant with the Act on Digital Accessibility due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below:

Some videos do not have subtitles and/or audio description.

The website contains foreign-language content for which the original language has not been defined.

There are HTML and CSS code errors, including:

issues with keyboard accessibility of certain elements,

the search window does not meet modal window requirements,

lack of semantic lists for items that are visually presented as lists,

disrupted focus order.

All of the above issues are being gradually resolved.

Maps are exempt from the accessibility requirements.

Preparation of this accessibility statement

This statement was prepared based on a self-assessment conducted by the public entity.

Feedback and contact information

The following individuals are responsible for handling comments and requests regarding accessibility:
Renata Gajowiak
Email: rgajowiak@polonika.pl
Phone: +48 739 008 511

Anyone has the right to:

report comments regarding the digital accessibility of the website or any of its elements,

submit a request to ensure digital accessibility of the website or any of its elements,

request access to inaccessible information in an alternative format.

The request must include:

contact details of the person submitting the request,

an indication of the specific page or element of the website the request concerns,

a preferred format for the alternative presentation of the inaccessible content (if applicable).

The public entity is required to respond to the request promptly and no later than within 7 days of its submission. If it is not possible to meet this deadline, the requesting party will be informed when the request will be fulfilled, which must not exceed 2 months from the date of the request. If digital accessibility cannot be provided, the public entity may offer an alternative method of access to the requested information. If the public entity refuses to fulfil the request, the person submitting it may lodge a complaint regarding the digital accessibility of the website, mobile application, or any of their elements.

Such a complaint may also be submitted to the Commissioner for Human Rights (Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich).

Architectural accessibility

Location of the POLONIKA Institute office:
ul. Antoniego Józefa Madalińskiego 101, 02-549 Warsaw, Poland

The building can be accessed from the street address above.
A doorbell is located at the entrance. Visitors must ring to enter the premises. The doorbell is mounted at a height that may not be accessible to wheelchair users. In such cases, please contact us by phone: (+48) 22 270 14 66 or SMS: (+48 570 007 511).

There are 11 steps leading to the main entrance. There is no wheelchair ramp.

There is a second entrance on the left side of the building, accessed via stairs to level -1.
A third entrance is located at the back of the building, from the parking lot. It also requires ascending 11 steps to reach level 0.
There is no wheelchair ramp at any of the entrances.
A stair-climbing wheelchair is available to assist persons with disabilities in navigating the stairs.
The building does not have an elevator.

The main entrance is opened by a receptionist. The reception desk is located in the main hall.
The desks in the reception area and registry office on the ground floor are not lowered.
There is a wheelchair-accessible restroom on the ground floor.

Parking spaces

There are three parking spaces on the premises, one of which is intended for persons with disabilities.
This space is not marked with vertical or horizontal signage and is made available upon prior contact with the secretariat staff.

Public transport

In the vicinity of the building, there are:

two tram stops (lines: 17, 41),

one bus stop (lines: 138, 168, N34).

Facilities for deaf and hard of hearing persons

The Institute does not currently offer remote access to a sign language interpreter.
Deaf visitors requiring interpretation assistance are requested to contact the Institute in advance via SMS (+48 570 007 511) or email: kontakt@polonika.pl.
The Institute does not provide an induction loop.

Information for deaf-blind persons

If you are a deaf-blind person and require a guide-interpreter, please notify us at least 3 business days in advance via phone (+48) 22 270 14 66, SMS (+48 570 007 511), or email kontakt@polonika.pl.

Information for blind and visually impaired persons

Guide dogs and assistance dogs are welcome in the building.
There are no Braille markings or high-contrast or large print signs in the building.

Documents in Braille

Blind persons who would like to print materials from our website in Braille are asked to contact us at kontakt@polonika.pl.

PDF documents

Some articles on the website contain externally provided attachments in PDF format that may be inaccessible to screen readers used by blind persons.
Unfortunately, these files cannot be modified retroactively.
If you are interested in a particular file, please contact us at kontakt@polonika.pl and we will do our best to provide the information in an accessible format.
For newly published PDF documents, we strive to ensure they are created in accordance with accessibility guidelines. These include structured headings, tables with headers, and alternative text for graphic elements.