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News of theme "Social Affairs and Health"
04 December 2019 Press release

8th Monegasque Meeting on Disability - Visual impairment: using touch and hearing to “see” your way

© Direction de la Communication / Charly Gallo

To mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Tuesday 3 December, the 8th Monegasque Meeting on Disability provided an opportunity to publicise the latest efforts undertaken in the Principality to promote better mobility for people with disabilities, particularly those who are blind or visually impaired. These efforts include improvements to roads and to the public transport service provided by the Monegasque Bus Company (CAM). The event was organised by the Social Inclusion and Disability Office, and attended by Didier Gamerdinger, Minister of Health and Social Affairs, Patrice Cellario, Minister of the Interior, and representatives from the elected assemblies.

Representatives from the Government, associations,* individuals and a Year 6 (CM2) class from Ecole des Révoires took part in an immersive experience.

Wearing a blindfold over their eyes and with a white cane in hand, they travelled along Rue du Gabian as far as Avenue Albert II, using the pedestrian crossings equipped with audio-signal traffic lights and tactile paving to aid orientation. They then took a CAM bus specially provided for the purpose, and tested the voice announcement system deployed at bus stops and on the bus itself.

 At the end of the journey, participants came together to share their impressions with facilitators and visually impaired people.

Said Didier Gamerdinger: “Today the Department of Social Welfare and Social Services offered pupils and adults an opportunity to put themselves in the shoes of a visually impaired person and test the specific facilities that have been made available in the city to help the partially sighted. This exercise contributes to shared awareness.”

*: Gemm - d'Amore Psy, Association des Handicapés Moteurs, and Special Olympics.

 

 

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https://en.gouv.mc/Policy-Practice/Social-Affairs-and-Health/News/8th-Monegasque-Meeting-on-Disability-Visual-impairment-using-touch-and-hearing-to-see-your-way