Disabled Tourist-Friendly Euroregion

Euroregion Pomerania develops the PHARE CBC financed project emphasising the issue of the disabled tourist-friendly city. Municipal Centre for Recreation and Rehabilitation runs the project since September 2002 together with the City Social Affairs Department Through this project the city endeavoured to create proper conditions for the disabled in the city. It is believed that proper conditions will allow the disabled to feel a fully valuable part of the European euroregion and its cultural heritage.

The CBC partners have already printed out a promotional brochure targeted at all NGOs and institutions active in the disabled persons circles. The main highlights of the project are the disabled tourist guidebook of the city of Szczecin and the city book for the disabled. Both publications have been consulted with the disabled as they know their needs best. The first meeting on the German side of the border took place in January 2003. A framework programme for the publications for guides and disabled tourist animators was developed. Additionally the project will consist in theoretical and practical training sessions for disabled tourist animators on both sides of the border. As the final outcome of the project, a group of disabled tourists from Germany and Western Pomerania shall be presented the city of Szczecin as the disabled tourist destination point. There is a chance for them to discuss their problems and show the social potential they possess. Since local governments make decisions about daily life, create reality and conditions for living for inhabitants, let us the disabled lead normal and decent life.

The city of Szczecin attempts at removing all the obstacles that prevent the disabled from participating in normal and active life. Through its policy, the city hosts the Polish national team of the disabled athletes before the World Championships and implements verified solutions that have been consulted with the disabled earlier, and great attention to developing a support system for disabled champions is shown here.

As a result of its international experiences, the city administration has started the procedure of awarding the certificates of accessibility of buildings for the disabled, favouring those who fulfil city requirements. The municipal athletic stadium has been completely adjusted to the needs of the disabled. The city pays for translating the regional TV programmes into the sign language. Also, www guide and info-on line service for the disabled in the Polish and German languages are available in Szczecin. Municipal Centre for Recreation and Rehabilitation together with the START -Sports Club of Invalids created the municipal centre of disabled sports and tourism activities. The international event of championships of Poland's invalid athletes in 2003 is planned in Szczecin. These are only some examples of the city actions.