Social Agenda Issue 54

Severely sight impaired In a video published on the European Commission’s website, Anna Woźniak-Szymańska, from Warsaw, sets out what accessibility means to her and explains how the city of Warsaw has improved in order to eliminate the difficulties she faces. “As I am severely sight impaired, my biggest problem is getting around”, says Anna. “Warsaw is a big, bustling city. This means I encounter different types of obstacles: I have problems identifying the numbers of buses and trams, finding the doors and getting onto the buses and trams, so I have to concentrate”. “Warsaw has become a friendlier city in recent years”, adds Anna. “There is more and more tactile paving, which helps blind people using a cane. It also helps visually impaired people who can feel the tactile paving underfoot. More and more trams and buses have marked entrances. Every town and city should be accessible because accessibility enables us to lead normal lives as citizens of every town and city”. Deaf and blind In another Commission video, Sanja Tarczay, from Zagreb, explains that she is a deaf-blind person. “As such, I face mobility problems every day. Not only because I am deaf-blind but because of the environment, that creates a number of difficulties. The accessibility of education institutions means a great deal to me. I am really very proud, considering how it was before, how the city of Zagreb has now changed”. “For example look at the Faculty of Philosophy, how many different adjustments have been made”, stresses Sanja. “Starting from basic physical adjustments: For example they have ramps, they have lifts, but they also cater for students who are visually impaired. They have a suitable room where students can customise their texts using Braille. This faculty also provides transportation to the university for students with disabilities. An accessible city is not only important for people who have disabilities, it is also important for all citizens. If you have accessibility, that means you have access to knowledge. Living in an accessible city means living in a city with a heart”. Accessing by bike Just how important accessibility happens to be for all citizens is illustrated by yet another video, featuring Hugo Martinez, from Lugo, Spain. Hugo, who has no disabilities, likes to use his bike. “There are few areas with bike lanes and they are not sign posted”, he explains. “It is not easy to access a city, because there aren’t many signs that help me find my way”. “Fortunately, my city has changed because, through the Riolas association, we have put pictograms in many stores and in other places such as the Provincial Museum and now I have easier access to many places in my city”. “Accessibility means a lot to me because it allows me to move more safely and be able to do things on my own. But it can also be important for everyone at a certain time in our lives”. Videos with Anna, Sanja and Hugo: https://europa.eu/!CB93kC Culture accessibility Cultural heritage was also an important part of the 2019 Access city Award: To mark the European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018, a special prize was awarded to two cities that have made an effort to improve access to cultural heritage: Vibord (Denmark) and Monteverde (Italy). The aim of this prize was to raise awareness about what has been done so far, and what the EU plans to do for its citizens with disabilities so that cultural wealth may be enjoyed by all citizens on an equal basis. Knowledge and heart: Accessibility (here via a Braille notepad) means access to knowledge and an accessible city means a city with a heart. © Belga Image SOC I A L AG E NDA / MA R C H 2 0 1 9 / 2 5