In Italy, there are over 360 thousand blind people and over a half million visually impaired. There are more than 30 million visually impaired people in Europe.
The data on mobility, relating to 2019 (ISTAT report), shows that only 14.4% of people with disabilities travel by urban public transport, compared to 25.5% of the rest of the population.
LETIsmart allows all these people to become active again, as required by national and international declarations, conventions, and laws.
The 2006 UN Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities promotes a new culture regarding the condition of persons with disabilities by providing guidelines for building an inclusive society.
In order to enable persons with disabilities to live independently and to participate fully in all scopes of life, Nations must take appropriate actions to ensure that persons with disabilities, on an equal basis with others, have access to physical environment, transport, information and communication, including information and communication systems and technologies, and other equipment and services open or offered to community, both in urban and rural areas.
- ONU Convention on Human Rights of 2006 (see Article 9) -
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In 2015, ONU defined 17 sustainable development goals that states must achieve by 2030. Among these, one is dedicated to the inclusion of people with disabilities.
11.2 – By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons
11.3 – By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries
11.7 – By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities
- Sustainable Development Goal 11 -
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In 2018, Europe passed the European Accessibility Act which imposes accessibility as a prerequisite for the marketing of products and services within the nations of the Union. Public administrations are called upon to lead by including the accessibility requirement in all contracts.
The EU Directive 2014/24 / EU and Directive 2014/25 / EU on public procurement, defining procedures for the procurement of public contracts and design contests for certain supplies (products), services and works establish that, for all procurement which is intended for use by natural persons, whether general public or staff of the contracting authority or entity, the technical specifications shall, except in duly justified cases, be drawn up so as to take into account accessibility criteria for persons with disabilities or design for all users. …
- European Accessibility Act -
DownloadIn the EU regulation no. 181/2011 of the European Parliament and the Council defines the rights of passengers traveling by bus. In the regulation there are specific articles concerning the right to transport of persons with disabilities under the same conditions as other travelers, as well as the right to information about the trip.
This Regulation establishes rules governing bus and coach transport about:
a) non-discrimination between passengers regarding the conditions of transport offered by carriers;
c) non-discrimination and compulsory assistance for people with disabilities or reduced mobility;
e) the minimum information to be provided to passengers;
- EU Regulation no. 181/2011 –
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Through various laws and decrees, Italy also regulates the right to inclusion both in private buildings and in public buildings, public spaces and services.
For the blind people, it is suitable to prepare audio equipment for these indications, or supplementary signs written in Braille. To facilitate orientation, it is necessary to provide clearly recognizable reference points in enough quantity and in a suitable position. In general, any dangerous situation must be made immediately noticeable by of measures and means referable to both acoustic and visual perceptions.
Presidential Decree no. 503 of 24/7/1996
By architectural barriers we mean: …
2c) the lack of precautions and signals that allow the orientation and recognition of places and sources of danger for anyone and in particular for the blind people, for the visually impaired and for the deaf.
- DPR 503 1996 Accessibility? buildings public services spaces –
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