-
Pedibus and Bicibus Project
As part of its commitment to making the city more accessible for all, Genoa is upgrading and extending pedestrian routes and spaces, and barrier-free routes; as well as introducing the Pedibus and Bicibus Project for smart mobility. Find out more at: https://www.visitgenoa.it/en/homepage
-
Innovative Signage makes world of colour accessible to colour blind
Born in Porto, the ColourADD has reached worldwide acclaim as an innovation in helping people who are colour-blind participate in the colour dominated world of signage. Here in the city, it appears on tourist maps, flags and Ecopoints on the beaches and on car parks to help everyone navigate, understand, and feel welcome to an accessible experience of the city. Find out more at: http://www.coloradd.net/imgs/ColorADD-About-Us_0315.pdf
-
Digital Passenger Information via website
Because accessibility is an important issue for Szeged and not only about creating a livable, safe environment for people with permanent disabilities but also for people with temporary disabilities, its website has been made fully accessible. Web accessibility offers benefits for people in good health and with disabilities. An important principle of web accessibility is the design of flexible websites and software to meet different user needs, preferences, and situations. This flexibility benefits people with "temporary disabilities" and those whose abilities change as they age. In overall, accessibility will make the environment easier to use for people with walking sticks/crutches, elderly people, mothers pushing pushchairs, but also people carrying their luggage, or almost all people after an accident. Furthermore, acoustic passenger information systems, which are used on public transport, provide tourists with information to help them find their way around. Find out more at : https://www.arkadszeged.hu/en/services/accessibility/
-
“Accessible Izmir”
The Izmir Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has organised the International Congress for the Urban Problems of People with Disabilities in 2013, 2016 and 2019, resulting in the implementation of the “Red Flag” Award. The award outlines public indoor and outdoor spaces of both private and public institutions within the city that have significantly improved their accessibility to everyone. So far, a total of 81 institutions have been awarded the “Red Flag”. Find out more at: http://www.engelsizmir.org/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
-
Cross-sectoral table on accessibility and inclusion via P.E.B.A. Plan
has focused on creating innovative tourism practices related to accessibility, with the ambition that all the people must have the same accessibility to the city. As part of this, Genoa has established a cross-sectoral table on accessibility and social inclusion. The goal is to enable everyone to live independently and participate fully in all aspects of life, and therefore measures will be taken 16 to ensure equal access to the physical environment, transport, information and communication. The P.E.B.A. Plan for the elimination of architectural barriers is an important goal already achieved. Find out more at: https://www.visitgenoa.it/sites/default/files/archivio/GUIDA%20GENOVA%20ACCESSIBILE%20PER%20TUTTI.pdf
-
"Blue Line" Map
Zagreb has also created the “Blue Line Map”, the first tourist map of the city centre specially adapted for wheelchair users, available free of charge at the information centres operated by the Zagreb Tourist Board. A Blue Line mobile app will also be available soon. Find out more at: https://infozagreb.hr/multimedija/brosure
-
Sign Language Guided Tours for Christmas Market
offers various services for people with special physical challenges. For instance, the city offers guided tours of the Christmas market in sign language, thus encouraging other city tours to build accessibility to hearing-impaired people. 13 Find out more at: https://www.visitessen.de/essentourismus_veranstaltungen/essen__weihnachten_/fuehrungen_1/rundgaenge.de.html?fbclid=IwAR1sCu5EFVP3wIuOX6vk7TSMXR7xP2pXNYrSsRRwj2icKqWWrw5_-OQaHto
-
Getting around with eco-friendly transport options
The city of Cork is focused on promoting social inclusion. Thus, it aims to enhance public transport and greater eco-friendly transport options for all. With the city’s transport strategy to 2040 (Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy) Cork anticipates investing around €3.5 billion. Investments will help Cork to fulfil its ambition to support the vibrancy, accessibility and livability of Cork City Centre and Metropolitan centres for the local community and visiting guests. Find out more at: https://www.nationaltransport.ie/planning-and-investment/strategic-planning/regional-transport-strategies/cork-metropolitan-area-transport-strategy/ https://consult.corkcity.ie/en/consultation/draft-cork-city-development-plan-2022-2028/chapter/4-transport-and-mobility
-
"Accessible Zagreb" App and Map
The web and mobile app Pristupačni Zagreb (“Accessible Zagreb”) provides information on the accessibility of different facilities in the public, private and civil sector in eight categories - culture, education, sports, hospitality, administration, services, social welfare and healthcare. Additional categories will be added. The database contains around 2,500 facilities categorised as accessible, inaccessible or partially accessible, as well as a photo gallery showing the current situation in terms of accessibility. An accessibility map is being developed on Google Maps, which will display an accessible walking route for persons with disabilities within the covered area. Find out more at: https://pristupacni.zagreb
-
Accessible Routes System (SIA)
An interactive accessibility instrument, the System of Accessible itineraries is greatly benefiting policy makers and decision makers in Porto by providing an easy to use and easy to understand system of analysis for transforming urban landscapes into a more modern and accessible space. For urban planners and high-volume tourism destinations, the SIA is a steppingstone for greater understanding what an accessible city requires. Developed in Porto, this strategic too, can provide greater awareness and understanding of how to create a democratic tourism destination for all. Find out more at:https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/5840
-
"Dialog Through Touch" Project
The project “Dialogue Through Touch” has been actively involved in efforts to adapt museums for the blind, visually impaired, and the deaf-blind (a guide in Braille, audio guide, translation into sign language). Find out more at: http://www.mgz.hr/hr/edukacija/dijalog-kroz-dodir,3270.html
-
Digital products tailored for disabled people
The city of Lublin has started to improve its digital products to fit the needs of persons with various kinds of disabilities. All the tourist websites it has to offer are prepared for deaf, blind and amblyopic people and for persons with physical disabilities. The tourist websites as well as the mobile apps Tourist Lublin can be reached with keyboard shortcuts, contrast bottom, responsiveness (according to various sizes of devices’ screens), changing the font size, accessibility for text reader etc. All functionalities are described in the special accessibility declarations. 23 Find out more at: https://miastoinspiracji.lublin.eu/#programy-inspiracji https://lublininfo.com/en/#glowna https://lublin.eu/en/what-to-see-do/tourist-culture-information/mobile-application-visit-lublin/
-
Smart learning about the city in advance
Located just 100 kilometers away from the capital of Vilnius, Kaunas has implanted an innovative measure designed to make the journey more interesting and useful in regard to time spent. The Kaunas Tourism Information (Kaunas IN) have implemented the new smart project “Tourism Information Friendly” (TIF) places, where tourists can find publications, maps, and information in different languages in many places across the entire city and, including the trains to and from the city. This enables the travel to the city to already help become part of the attraction, the immersion, and the insights into the city. Find out more at: https://visit.kaunas.lt/en/plan/practical-information/tourism-information-friendly-places/
-
Emphasis on accessibility in Typhlological Museum
The Typhlological Museum is one of the few museums in Europe focused on issues experienced by persons with disabilities, in particular the visually impaired. The Museum respects diversity, promotes solidarity, and having adapted its collection for persons with disabilities, invites visitors to actively participate in the visual, olfactory and tactile experience. 22 Find out more at:https://www.tifloloskimuzej.hr/en/about-us/about-the-typhlological-museum/
-
Autism Life Center
The Efeler Municipality has brought the Autism Life Center as one of its projects into life – with the vision of making Efeler a "Brand City" – to provide education and social development opportunities to individuals with autism and their families. The 20 project’s aim is to support the independence, to develop fine-coarse motor skills and to enable individuals with autism to use language communication skills effectively. Besides raising awareness for a better education and better future, the overall objective is to provide equal opportunities to individuals with autism and their families who cannot be included in these programs due to financial difficulties. Individuals with autism can benefit from education and rehabilitation services for free, develop their creativity and socialize by performing artistic activities. The Autism Life Center has a floor area of 210 m and can serve 400 individuals and its training and development programs are tailored to different age groups and individual skills. The program is extended towards activities such as painting, game and music. This initiative provides moral support for families and will help to reintegrate autistic children into society. Find out more at: https://www.efeler.bel.tr/guncel/haberler/efeler-den-ozel-bireylere-ozel-bir-yer https://www.aydinhedef.com.tr/efelere-400-kisilik-otizm-yasam-merkezi-acildi-28305h.htm
-
Committee and Collaboration for Accessibility in the city
Three times a year, a Municipal Accessibility Committee, made up of representatives from different entities and associations, as well as from various areas of the City Council, meets in Gijón. Furthermore, active collaboration is organised with specialised entities such as PREDIF, ADAPA or COCEMFE ASTURIAS. The aim is both to raise awareness with campaigns and to create accessible tourism products and services. Among them, the city already offers four routes of tourist interest accessible to all, and 34 Gijón tourist resources, included in the Tur4all application. 17 Find out more at: https://drupal.gijon.es/sites/default/files/2019-05/mapa-accesible_def.pdf https://www.viaja.tur4all.com/planifica-tu-viaje/?destino=Gij%C3%B3n
-
“Barrier Free Gdynia” as a long-term solution for accessibility
The vision of a “Barrier Free Gdynia” is an innovative and long-term approach to solve the issue of accessibility in Gdynia. It is a continuation of previous activities and aims to eliminate barriers and provide residents and visitors with full and equal access to goods and services. The city follows a strategy of building sports and cultural facilities, such as the National Rugby Stadium, the City Stadium and the Gdynia Sports and Entertainment Hall, friendly to the elderly, people with disabilities or children. Venues like these have been designed considering accessibility for all, including tourists. During sporting events, blind people can make use of audio description, pavements in Gdynia have tactile paving for the visually impaired and in many places, steps were replaced by ramps. Additionally, all traffic lights at pedestrian crossings in Gdynia are equipped with sound signals. Since 1999, the “Barrier Free Gdynia” competition has been organized to honor institutions, organizations and individuals - authors of ideas and improvements that help overcome stereotypes regarding the perception of handicaped persons. Find out more at: https://www.gdynia.pl/mieszkaniec/aktualnosci,3805/program-gdynia-bez-barier-2018-2023,529145
-
The House Lodging project
Carried out in the Han District in partnership with Eskisehir Osmangazi University and Han Municipality, the “House Lodging” project is organising trips with accommodation for the tourist coming to Yazılıkaya region. It is aiming to create a new business line for women living in rural areas, but also to do the promotion of the Phrygian Valley, one of the most important cultural and historical assets of Eskisehir, and to strengthen the members of the Han’s Eli Women’s Cooperative socio-economically, that 15 was established in the Han District. 14 women from the Han District had the opportunity to complete the House Lodging training modules. Find out more at: https://ge.eskisehir.bel.tr/icerik_dvm.php?icerik_id=5450&cat_icerik=1
-
A new information tool on accessibility
A new website has been launched by San Sebastián and can be considered as a new information tool on accessibility in the city. Users can find information about the degree of accessibility offered by tourist services and 14 attractions. The website target different groups, such as people with reduced mobility, vision, and hearing problems, and neurodivergence, and is constantly being refined for improvement. Find out more at: https://accessibility.sansebastianturismoa.eus/en/
-
“Padova per tutti” Project
Thanks to a wide network of local public and private bodies dealing with disabilities and aiming at making the city more usable for everyone, the “Padova per tutti” project started in 2019. It main output is the online “Accessible tourist itinerary in Padova”, a guide of Padova and especially the city’s historical and cultural attractions, providing useful information on the accessibility of the route. In total, 2.5 km can be travelled on foot or with aids such as wheelchairs, with indications on the barriers for both people with motor disabilities and reduced mobility, which includes elderly people and visually impaired ones. Find out more at: https://padovapertutti.wordpress.com/2020/10/30/guida-itinerario-turistico-accessibile-di-padova-il-cuore-della-citta/
-
La Concha Beach, assisted bathing service
The tide makes it difficult to install permanent footbridges during the summer season, however, the La Concha Beach has an assisted bathing service. The latter includes the use of an “amphibious vehicle” that, with the help of one or two monitors, allows mobility both on the sand and in the water. This system allows people with reduced mobility to enjoy the beach. Find out more at: https://accessibility.sansebastianturismoa.eus/en/what-to-visit/beaches/la-concha-beach#barrier-free-bathing 12
-
Accessibility on the Poniente Beach
The Poniente Beach in Gijón offers an accessible area for people with disabilities. Operational since 2015, many facilities are available, such as two adapted toilets and showers, an accessible beach library, amphibious chairs and crutches, and the Audioplaya support system. Find out more at: https://en.asturias.com/west-beach/ 11
-
Facilitated beach access for people with disabilities
Entrances to the city center beach are equipped with posts for the blind with pictograms and Braille description of the 10 direction which is facilitated by wooden ramps. A playground with equipment for children with disabilities is also provided along with umbrellas for sun protection. The city center beach offers toilets and showers for people with disabilities and people with mobility impairments can take advantage of bathing chairs at the bathing site (so-called amphibian). Gdynia's beaches provide accessibility audits describing and illustrating access to them. The city’s lifeguards have been trained to communicate with people with sight, hearing or multiple disabilities and have trained methods and techniques for transferring, supporting and assisting people at the bathing sites. Find out more at: https://www.inyourpocket.com/gdansk/travelling-with-a-disability-in-gdansk-sopot_77157f
-
Inclusive initiatives
Accessibility is also about inclusion and Aarhus is an open and innovative city with a great diversity of people. Aarhus has a strong LGBTQ+ community and every year, the Aarhus Pride parade celebrates diversity in Aarhus and contributes to the respect for and acceptance of all LGBTQ+ persons. Also, the Aarhus City Council has a strong focus on making Aarhus a better and more attractive city and a better and more attractive workplace for LGBTQ+ persons. As the first city in Denmark, Aarhus in 2019 joined the Rainbow Cities Network, including 33 cities in 17 different countries, actively working to improve conditions for LGBTQ+ citizens. Aarhus also hosts ‘KØN – Gender Museum Denmark’ presenting the cultural history between genders, equality, body and sexuality. A comprehensive policy of the City entitled ‘Aarhus for us all’ is addressing accessibility issues for people with special needs. The policy reflects the fact that the City has a holistic approach to creating an accessible environment for everyone, with a focus on people with disabilities. Aarhus wants everyone to feel valued and have equal opportunities when it comes to making use of the city. Based on the City’s three values, Reliability, Respect, and Commitment, Aarhus wants to ensure that people with all types of disabilities are given the option to live an independent life and opportunities to participate on their own terms. Find out more at: https://www.aarhus.dk/english/collaborate-with-the-city/inclusive-citizenship/inclusion/