Workshop Networks without Barriers in the Baroque Chateau Liblice
The conference hall of the Academy of Sciences was filled to capacity. The mission of our Barrier-Free Network is to connect people and organizations from different fields. The introduction was brilliantly handled by our Disway leader Mgr. Jana Panáčková and Mrs. Ing. Lucie Landrová, from the Central Bohemian Tourism Centre.
What is the importance of the Barrier-Free Network in the field of tourism? People with disabilities want to travel and discover interesting places in the Czech Republic and abroad, just like able-bodied travellers. For service providers, people with disabilities can be an important customer. How to effectively create suitable conditions for travellers with special needs? This was explained by Mgr. Jana Panáčková, Petr Hřích and Aleš Černohous from our association.
A disabled traveller needs to know what to expect on a trip and where to look out for. That is why we map routes without barriers, based on the methodology of the Prague Wheelchair Organization. Aleš Černohous presented the routes we have mapped this year in a short presentation. One route led through the surroundings of Mšeno - Hotel Kokořín, Restaurant Zlatý lev, Bistro Harasov... and this is just a small list of places on the route. We were pleased that the Mayor of Mšeno, Mr. Jiří Guttenberg, attended our workshop. Ales talked about what pleasantly surprised him on the way and where there were some obstacles. He explained well that often "accessible" does not mean barrier-free. Those who like sports will definitely be interested in the Trixi Bad swimming pool or the Sparkassen-Arena in Jonsdorf, Germany.
Which way to go? The Disway Trails app is the answer. How to use it, what it offers, and that there are 340 points of interest in it were shown on several slides by our developer on a wheelchair, Tom Hluštík. What point of interest is the most important for a person with a disability? You might be surprised, but in our app, the number of accessible toilets, accessible accommodation and attractions leads the list afterwards.
Most of our workshops and events are not to be missed by Mrs. Elfi Kühnel from the Naturschutzzentrum "Zittauer Gebirge". In her presentation she described how she mapped out routes suitable for the blind in the area around the Zittauer Gebirge Nature Park. They may not be able to see, but they can feel the strange local rock formations with their touch, for example, which they jokingly named the Badger or the Rhino. The blind are able to distinguish trees by the structure of their bark or leaves. That is, unless the leaves are damaged or somehow infested with, say, beech bark beetle. Dear Elfi had a handful of twigs, leaves and pine cones with her to demonstrate. The singing of birds or the smell of plants also adds to the experience of a trip to nature for the blind.
The travellers Lída and Maruška (wheelchair user) Harcubova also had many stories to tell. Together they visited five continents and from each country they have many stories and anecdotes. What led them to start travelling and discovering the beauty of, for example, both coasts of the USA, the unique flora and fauna of Africa or Australia and its Red Centre? Probably the love of travel, getting to know the local people and beauty. For more than 20 years they have found that a wheelchair is not a barrier. They say this travel talk would easily stand up at a TED conference.
Hopefully our Networks Without Barriers workshop was beneficial to all present and online listeners. Thank you all... From the Destination Society of East Bohemia, from the Mělník - Kokořín Tourist Area, NRZP, POV or CZEPA for your attention and hopefully we will meet again soon in a similar beautiful place as the Liblice Castle.
The workshop was made possible with the support of the Czech-German Future Fund.
