How barrier-free is ETH?
You can attend workshops in October at which ETH is ‘experienced’ in a wheelchair or with a white stick and simulation glasses – please register and come along! Furthermore, there are new directions to ETH buildings for visually impaired and blind people. And another sub-project has now been completed.
“Barrier-free alarm systems and evacuation procedures” sub-project completed
In the event of an emergency, there need to be clear procedures in place governing how people with a disability or impairment are to be alerted and evacuated. To alert people with impaired hearing, alarm systems must be not only audible but also visual – featuring flashing lights, for example. Furthermore, people with impaired mobility must be able to reach safety by themselves in the event of an emergency or evacuation.
ETH Zurich already has alarm and evacuation concepts in place. These have been supplemented by further measures drawn up in the “Barrier-free alarm systems and evacuation procedures” sub-project by the project team under the leadership of the Safety, Security, Health & Environment department (SSHE): for example, waiting areas in safe parts of ETH buildings, such as the staircases, are marked with a newly designed pictogram. Persons affected can wait in these areas for first aid staff in order, for example, to be brought out of the building with a rescue blanket. The emergency staircases are also supplemented with handrails and stair markings on both sides so that no-one stumbles in the event of an evacuation. Furthermore, the ETH app is to be expanded to include the most common emergency numbers.
The texts of voice alarm systems, e-mails and telephone announcements have already been adapted to include the request also to support persons in need of assistance. The fire safety courses have also been supplemented with regular training blocks on dealing with persons with disabilities or impairments.
Directions for visually impaired and blind people
“Tap along the metal gutter, and after about 40 metres follow the curve as it leads first right, then left. After that the kerb edge is raised and can be tapped, the guidance area for bus number 80 is after 50 metres.” This is what people who are blind or cannot see well hear as they are guided from the HCI building to access public transport at the ETH Hönggerberg campus.
Together with the Swiss Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, directions have been compiled to large ETH buildings such as the CHN, HIT and HG buildings. These are intended to help visually impaired and blind people navigate unfamiliar routes unaccompanied. The descriptions can be accessed via the website and read out by a so-called screen reader. The list of buildings is being continuously expanded.
Awareness workshops in wheelchairs and with white sticks and simulation glasses
You will discover at the awareness workshop which obstacles are faced in daily life by people with disabilities and learn about ways in which they can be reduced. In a change of perspective, you will experience for yourself at first hand life in a wheelchair or with a white stick or simulation glasses and gain an impression of how people with disabilities experience their environment and are forced to come to terms with it. You will be accompanied in this by experts from external page Sensability.
A report has been published in the latest edition of the life magazine about the change of perspective held in the spring. Two further workshops will take place on the following dates:
- 2 October 2023, 4-6 p.m., ETH Zentrum, CLA J 1
- 5 October 2023, 4-6 p.m., ETH Hönggerberg, HIT E 51
with your last name, first names and preferred date.
Barrier-Free at ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich is committed to accessibility: over the course of the next few years, people with disabilities and those with special needs – whether students, lecturers, researchers, staff or visitors – are to benefit from greatly improved access to ETH buildings and services.
The proposed measures will be implemented in 14 sub-projects under three categories: “Construction, Building Usage and Architecture”, “Organisation and Culture” and “Technology, Communication and Teaching”.
For more information on the programme and the 14 sub-projects, visit the programme website and the new exhibition on the topic of “barrier-free” in the OCT building.
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