As part of the assessment of the functioning of the Labor Museum after the implementation of a set of solutions designed specifically for people with disabilities, a visit was carried out on March 25th, which brought together users of the Association Promoting Employment of the Visually Impaired, as well as municipal technicians.
Right at reception, Rita’s feet notice a symbol. It is the directional tactile floor, a different flooring, with a texture that stands out from the rest of the space to attract the attention of blind people or people with low vision. “This ground is fundamental because it shows us the path to follow”he said.
Rita, one of the seven users of the Lisbon Employment Promotion Association for the Visually Impaired who visited the municipal equipment, approached the implementation of this solution with “satisfaction”per “help enable better mobility” at the Museum.
Throughout the initiative, technicians from the Educational Service of the Municipal Museums of the City Council wanted to collect the group’s opinion regarding the museum’s accessibility conditions and materials for people who are blind or have low vision, from ramps and floors or plants with reliefs to tactile and braille materials.
All of these resources help those who are blind or have low vision, and blind people who cannot read Braille can use the audio guides on site.
Accompanying the group as responsible, social worker Joana Costa highlighted the importance of blind people accessing culture. “The Michel Giacometti Labor Museum is extremely well adapted for people with visual impairments. We were very satisfied and will return with more students”, he highlighted at the end.
Gorette, a blind person who entered the Labor Museum for the first time, pointed out “the presentation” done and “the care” placed by technicians. “I really enjoyed coming here. It’s a shame it’s already finished.”confessed the user of the Association for Promoting Employment of the Visually Impaired.
The visit, which lasted more than two hours, covered all areas, including the long-term exhibitions “Mercearia Liberdade”, “Ao Encontro do Povo” and “Da Lota à lata”, dedicated to the three sectors of the economy, which make up the profile of the Michel Giacometti Labor Museum.
The initiative took place within the scope of the “Setúbal – Cultura Sem Barreiras” project, which is the result of a community application to Lisbon 2020 – Lisbon Regional Operational Program, of Portugal 2020, aimed at increasing artistic and cultural actions to enhance civic participation and enjoyment. cultural and heritage rights for the entire population, regardless of the physical or mental conditions of each citizen.
As part of this project, the City Council equipped cultural facilities with a wide range of solutions designed specifically for people with disabilities, in order to eliminate physical barriers and allow all citizens to enjoy the different spaces.
The Labor Museum, the Casa Bocage/Américo Ribeiro Photographic Archive, the Setúbal Museum/Convento de Jesus, the Luísa Todi Municipal Forum, the Cinema Charlot – Municipal Auditorium, the Casa da Cultura and the Municipal Library are some of the facilities covered by the candidacy, which involves an investment of almost half a million euros, reimbursed at a rate of 50 percent by the European Social Fund.
