Christel Songenbits from non-profit organisation Challenge Your Senses, Toomas Mihkelson from Pärnu’s Home for People With Disabilities and Silver Pulk from Pärnu’s Union for the Blind came together to exchange examples of what has already been done to provide accessibility in nature and thoughts on how to further improve it. Everyone agreed that it was of utmost importance to make already existing infrastructure more accessible. Additionally, information stands, webpages and other information exchange channels have to be made with disabled people in mind.
The second panel brought together Tatjana Koor from Enterprise Estonia, Anneli Lepp from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication and Kaja Lotman from the Environmental Board to discuss the actions that can be taken. It was agreed that the budget is not a limiting factor if these accessibility features are planned into it beforehand. Experts from the target demographic should be involved in the planning stage to make sure that the changes are satisfactory for them.
The environmental awareness specialist from the Environmental Board, Margit Turb was delighted by the fruitful discussions. “I hope that the ideas and conclusions born from these discussions will lead us to take new steps in the right direction. Many existing solutions – such as fishing and resting areas and information stands in Eastern-Estonia – are good examples that should be implemented around the country,” said Turb.
Outside the beach hotel, people were invited to challenge their senses. Anyone interested could try navigating a wheelchair on different inclines and around obstacles. Everyone was also invited to try navigating with the help of a service dog, use a smart device while blind, and try out braille and descriptive translations. Hearing aids were made available, as well as an opportunity to try out sign language. Different simulations showed people how difficult it is to perform daily activities with muscle weakness or rheumatism.
The Environmental Board invited people to go on a sense-led hike of Pärnu’s coastal meadow. The Board has developed a “sense turf”, aka a turf-shaped tool that allows people to sense the smells and touch items associated with nature. The turf was made with blind and deaf people in mind. There are bog, forest and shore themed turfs, all of which can be loaned out from the Environmental Board.
The accessibility day was organised through the Central-Baltic programme Nature Access to All by MTÜ Lääne-Eesti Turism, Municipality of Pärnu and the Environmental Board.
