It was possible to implement the projects thanks to USAID.
A guide to Western Ukraine in Braille with the addition of an audio version, an interactive map with tourist locations accessible to people with disabilities, and an inclusive site of cultural and historical objects with up-to-date information about their barrier-free accessibility – this is a list of products that were realized thanks to the project ” A barrier-free society as an element of mutual respect between people and a key to community development.”
Within the framework of its implementation, which became possible with the financial support of USAID “HOVERLA”, it was also possible to adapt the Museum of Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytskyi at 1 Kryvonosa Street in Lviv for people with visual and hearing disabilities. A tactile mnemonic map of the museum, tactile direction indicators for visually impaired museum visitors, combined media signs using Braille with a voice description of the exhibits for blind museum visitors, and audio guides were developed here.
They also created a historical and touristic film “Visiting the Metropolitan” about a museum for people with disabilities, accompanied by sign language and audio description:
Lyubov Kukuruza, head of the board of the Lviv regional organization UTOS, shared her impressions of the visit to the museum: “This is a truly inclusive excursion, which is professionally designed and extremely adapted for the blind. In addition to the fact that everything is described in detail, it is important that everyone had the opportunity to touch the exhibits and this allowed us to feel the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people.”
The Department of Tourism and Resorts of Lviv Regional Government sincerely welcomes initiatives that make tourist locations accessible to everyone.
“Within the scope of the USAID HOVERLA project to promote inclusiveness and a barrier-free environment in the field of tourism, a series of trainings was also held at the School of Inclusivity. It was attended by representatives of our administration, as well as territorial communities responsible for tourism in the region. Last year, they also had the opportunity to study the experience of foreign countries related to barrier-free accessibility. I am convinced that the acquired knowledge will contribute to the development of inclusive tourism,” said Taras Lozynskyi, head of the Tourism and Resorts Department of Lviv Oblast.