The town of Český Krumlov has become handicapped friendly for the third time
About 300 handicappedpeople both from the Czech Republic and abroad set out to the town of Český Krumlov to take part in the third year of the Disability Day - the Day without Barriers . The barriers in us and around us have been overcome at least for a while
This specific event which is unique in the whole Czech Republic has achieved its aim:to make the whole historical town centre and some chosen historical sights approachable for the blind, deaf and physically handicapped tourists who could visit the sights which are hardly ever or not at all accessible.
As every year there were many voluntary assistents to help to organize the Disability Day - the Day without Barriers This year 80 assistants arrived. Most were patients from the Mental Hospital in Červený Dvůr. They help the handicapped in the framework of their work and social therapy. Kiwanis Club, the event´s organizer, is thankful also to the students of Secondary Medical School in Český Krumlovas well as to the individuals who arrived to help selflessly.
For the mean time people on the main town square were listening to the music presented by Český Krumlov partner town choruses others were looking through the stands of the compensational aids producers, or non-profit organizations and companies involved in help the handicapped. Between times the wheelchair users set out for the tour of the state castle and chateau and Baroque Theatreor for the special city tour. There was also the tour calledTouch Český Krumlov arranged for the blind who could really touch the whole city as well as the haptic exhibition and ceramic model of the town inRegional Museum.
By the means of provisionary ramps,stair climbs, voluntary assistents and specialized tours with the commentary, finger spelling interpreters and haptic experiences the handicapped tourists again visited the renownedEgon Schiele Art Centre, they enjoyed the puppet exhibition in the Fairy Tale House and other expositions in chosen museums and galleries. At the weekend there were many usually inaccessible sights open in the framework ofEuropean Heritage Days.
The greatest attraction of the third year of the Disability Day - the Day without Barrierswas the Vltava river cruise on especially designed rafts. Half of the registered visiters took part in the voyage.Total number of 150 handicapped people enjoyed the rafting, . Many handicapped visitors consider this event as an extraordinary experience they will remember for a long time. The organizators were lucky also because of the hot sunny weather when all the planned outdoor events were realizable and most pleasant for the visitors.
This year the program of the Disability Day - the Day without Barriers interdigated with the program of Český Krumlov Partner Town Meeting The mayors from the German town of Hauzenberg, the Austrian town ofVöcklabruck and the Slovenian town of Slovenj Gradec besides brought to Krumlov also the groups of handicapped citizens of their towns who were gripped by the rich program and extraordinary experiences. They were very thankful and they decided to financially support other years of the Disability Day - the Day without Barriers and they handed over Kiwanis Club Český Krumlov delegates checks of the total sum of 18 000 crowns.. Also the parent town of Český Krumlov was not inferior to them. On Saturday 28 600 crowns more than the usual budgetwere added. .
The third year of the Disability Day - the Day without Barriers has been an international event for the first time. A coach trip for Austrian handicapped visitors was organized by the partner Kiwanis Club Mühlviertel and there were also Belgian handicapped . This visit as well as the program of the third year the Disability Day - the Day without Barriers were partially supported by the financial aid of European union within the framwork of Interreg IIIA Czech Republic - Austria Available Reserves
The prospective peak of this year´s weekend event became the evening benefit concert in Brewery Gardens on Saturday. Czech musicians directed by Filip Benešovský interpreted the legendary rock opera by the group Pink Floyd The Wall. The concert in the full Brewery Gardens had fantastic atmosphere: the music show presented by the children´s choir, string quartet, brass section and top home rockers was enjoyed also by the wheelchair users and mentally handicapped in the front rows.The musicians were supported by the great number of Pink Floyd fans. Despite of the fact that the concert took a long time overnight and the town citizens could be disturbed by a great noise of the concert the members of Kiwanis Club Český Krumlovbelieve that people will be tolerant this time, the concert´s profit will be used for the program of the Disability Day - the Day without Barriers 2007. Part of the money will be used to help children ill with cystic fibrosis and Etela Company which helps handicapped and socially handicapped children and youth.
The Disability Day - the Day without Barriers was organized by Kiwanis Club Český Krumlov in cooperation with the town of Český Krumlov and Český Krumlov Development Fund.Wide-ranging program of the third year would not be realizable without the help of sponsors and partners which we would like to thank again very much. Thanks also to the media partners which spread the good news to the world.
Other information: www.ckrumlov.cz/handicap2006
Libor Frýba
Kiwanis Club Český Krumlov president
kiwanis-klub@ckrumlov.cz
Phone number: 724 710 725
 | This project is guaranteed by the European Union programme Interreg IIIA |
Oficiální informační systém