During the seminar we discussed topics such as emotional intelligence, forms of disability, discrimination, stereotypes and prejudice, the use of intelligent language, vision at different ages and principles of universal design. We also discussed practical recommendations for communicating with people who have visual, hearing, movement or physical development and mental or intellectual development disabilities.

 Empathetic experience through practical tasks

In order for drivers to have empathetic experience and to be able to feel at least a bit in the everyday lives of people with visual disabilities and people with reduced mobility through typhotechnics and assistive devices, each had to perform a variety of practical tasks.

During the seminar, participants donned simulation goggles that reflect various eye diseases -- cataract, glaucoma, damage to the vitreous body, retinal detachment, lateral vision, tunnel vision, diabetes -- to understand how people with such visual impairments see the world. Similarly, through a practical demonstration, participants could see how to properly seat a blind person without causing unnecessary discomfort and embarrassment.

In the second part of the seminar, drivers were given the chance to get into the everyday lives of a blind person. The participants split into pairs and each was put on an eye bandage, but one of the couple was given the white cane. The challenge was to navigate the area of the social rehabilitation and cognition centre “Dvēseles veldzes dārzs” using a guidance system, other landmarks and senses. Drivers also had the opportunity to get to know the interactive stand “Dievs radīja” where they could feel and fumble grain, trees, animal skins and stones found in Latvia. Each had to try to guess the different objects, it truly is quite difficult without sight. Drivers of “Sajūtu parks” became familiar through smell, touch and taste. They could enjoy the aroma of flowering roses and challenge themselves by trying to guess, by smell, taste and touch, the names of various herbs. As part of this task, drivers realized how challenging it was to navigate the environment and recognize different things when deprived of the senses with which they perceive most of the information on a daily basis.

Participants could also get into a wheelchair and try to move around with it. The experience showed the importance of a tailored environment for people in wheelchairs and building an appropriate road surface that would be easy to navigate.
At the end of the seminar, Māris Ceirulis, the head of the seminar, asked the participants: “What was the most useful thing you learned, to you personally, from this day's seminar?”
“Thank you so much. Now we can teach others too!” one of the drivers said.

To sum up what has been experienced in the seminar, it is clear that drivers have an approximate sense of the needs of people with disabilities and knowledge of legislation related to the transport of people with disabilities. But as one of the participants in the event admitted: “feels as if you know, but deeply you don't think about these issues on a daily basis.” Therefore, it is valuable for everyone to participate in such seminars and especially for those who may have contact with people that have disabilities on a daily basis, so that everyone knows how to communicate better, understand and help them.
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Seminars on the topic “C” are organised within the framework of the social project “Palīdzēsim cits citam iedrošinot un praktiski atbalstot”  (No. 26/2.8.5) funded by Liepāja society for the blind.

Financed by the City of Liepāja municipality
Social inclusion Project of non-governmental organisations
“Palīdzēsim cits citam iedrošinot un praktiski atbalstot” 
Nr.26/2.8.5.