Description
The project addresses the need to facilitate the access of visually impaired people to the Sofia underground system. The project aims at social inclusion of visually impaired people by delivering a new service, i.e. verbal maps at 23 stations of line 1 in 3 accessible formats, i.e. Braille, large print and audio files. First, the project team will be set up. Second, verbal maps will be prepared for 6 of the stations of line 1, tested by volunteers, adjusted and developed for the other stations as well. Third, the verbal maps will be published in Braille or large print and recorded as audio files. Fourth, information about the verbal maps will be provided at the website of the relevant organizations of the stakeholders (Union of the Blind in Bulgaria). Finally, 45 visually impaired people will be trained to use efficiently the maps. The project will benefit the visually impaired in Sofia City, related NGOs, municipal authorities and the public in general.
Summary of project results
The project aimed at supporting visually impaired people by means of a special aid the Metro Guide whereby any visually impaired person could find out in advance about a specific station of the metro system in Sofia City including the neighbourhoods and thus plan a route for himself/herself. The specialized aid includes 23 verbal maps of the line 1 stations in three formats accessible for the group, i.e. Braille books, large flatbed print books and audio files, to help the members of this vulnerable social group move independently. The guide can be used by people with different type and degree of visual impairment from Sofia and the country, elderly people and NGOs of and for people with disabilities. The Metro Guide for visually impaired people increased the capacity for independent movement in the city of people from the target groups and thus raised their satisfaction with life and self-confidence. The guide increased to some extent the opportunities of visually impaired people for real social integration and thus reduced the risk of their social exclusion. The service is available in a digital format which helps keep it updated in the event of changes without additional costs. The verbal maps created under the project can serve as a model to expand this service or develop other services for the target group. The Metro Guide was published in a circulation of 200 Braille copies, 300 flatbed copies and 300 audio copies on a CD. The text and audio version of the Metro Guide are available for reading and downloading from the section on the association’s website devoted to the project. As of the end of the project more than 1000 representatives of the target group use the Metro Guide given 4000 visually impaired people in Sofia City. For more information about the project:
http://labourforblind.bg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&…
Summary of bilateral results