Access and Technology briefly
New Euro a Challenge to Blind People
The January 1, 2002 debut of the new 12- nation currency, called the Euro, is posing a challenge to blind Europeans. They have to quickly sort out the differences in feel among the eight new coins and seven new bank notes.
However, the European Blind Union began working with the designers several years ago and as its director, Mokrane Broussard in Paris, stated," About 95% of our recommendations were taken into account." Some organizations of the blind are holding Euro-workshops, such as one in Belgium using a board game designed by a blind teacher, one in Paris featuring a book with raised pattern illustrations of the new currency, and in the Netherlands where participants act out scenarios of using the euro in shops and vending machines.
Each denomination of the euro bills has different dimensions and colors. This helps to avoid the blind population's worst nightmare: bank notes similar to the U.S., where 1$ bills and $100 bills are the same size and color. Details: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/ap/20011227/wl/euro_blind_3.html
Russian Government Resumes Producing Special Cars for Disabled Drivers
After grinding to a halt in 1991 with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian auto plant just south of Moscow churned out 19,000 Okas, small cars for disabled drivers, in 2001 and hopes to increase production this year. According to a December 27 article in the Christian Science Monitor by Fred Weir, the cars are about half the size of a Volkswagen beetle, look like cubes on wheels and have special gears, pedals and steering devices.
Gennady Bykov, a plant manager, explained that the factory had been established in 1950 to build cars for disabled WWII veterans and over the years had served as a barometer of official concern for Russia's disabled population of an estimated 11 million. The article did not include the perspective of disabled Russians on the Okas, which from the size indicated in the photograph and description, appear as if it would be a challenge to include another adult-sized passenger.
The article does however report that Russian President Putin made a public statement in November about improving accessibility, after being embarrassed that disabled representatives invited to a Kremlin meeting were blocked by turnstiles. He stated, "Shame on us...the policies of the past made it impossible to integrate the disabled into society, even in the smallest ways. We need to make a complete overhaul of our attitudes and approaches." Read the comprehensive article on the web: www.csmonitor.com/2001/1227/p6s3-woeu.html
New Paralympics President Calls for Improved Access in Athens by 2004
Philip Craven of Britain, the new President of the International Paralympics Committee, has called for organizers to improve facilities in Athens for people with physical disabilities. He said, "In any historic city which was built 2002 years ago, there were of course no wheelchairs, " but urged the organizers to improve the current situation.
Craven, a former Paralympian who uses a wheelchair, was elected in December for a four year term. He is also the current president of he International Wheelchair Basketball Federation. The Athens Paralympics are set for September 17-28, 2004. Details: www.ican.com/news
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