site.btaBTA Director General Kiril Valchev Recognized for Contribution to Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities

Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Director General Kiril Valchev was awarded a plaque and an honorary certificate by the Union of Disabled People in Bulgaria (UDPB) here on Tuesday.

Valchev was honored for his work in promoting social inclusion for people with disabilities, his successful partnership with UDPB, and his efforts to improve accessibility at BTA's building.

The awards were presented by UDPB Chair Georgi Kolev following the signing of a partnership agreement between BTA and UDPB.

"Today [December 3] is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992. This commemoration aims to motivate policymakers and institutions to ensure people with disabilities have access to the built environment, to education, to the labour market, and to information. According to World Health Organization data, nearly 1.3 billion people worldwide live with disabilities, representing 16% of the global population—one in every six individuals," Valchev said at the ceremony.

Valchev stressed that data from the National Statistical Institute, analyzed by the Institute for Market Economics, shows 654,547 people in Bulgaria are recognized as having a permanent reduction in work capacity or a disability level. This accounts for about 10% of Bulgaria's population, with roughly 40% of them employed.

He also noted BTA's efforts to improve accessibility in its services and environment, such as the redesigned website, which includes options for font enlargement, features for people with dyslexia, and accessible text versions.

Georgi Kolev, Chair of UDPB, commended BTA for adhering to accessibility standards as a public institution.

"We can achieve so much if public institutions provide an accessible environment," Kolev said, addressing his message to all public institutions.