A conversation with Ivars Balodis and Jurģis Briedis, from the association “Apeirons”
What does the association “Apeirons” mean by the word “environment”?
Ivars: The environment is one of the issues we regularly address. It is not the surrounding environment where trees grow and birds live; rather, we look at the environment in terms of how it can be used and how a person with any kind of disability feels within it. For example, if a person uses a wheelchair, it is unlikely they will feel comfortable in just any forest, and it is unlikely they will be able to move around in every forest without worry! If we talk about the urban environment, buildings and infrastructure should be accessible so that every person can use them independently—regardless of whether they want to get into a government building, a shop, a museum, or a bus. These opportunities in Latvia are regulated and governed by many normative documents that state that people should use the surrounding environment independently; human rights also state that a person must have the opportunity to participate in society and its activities on an equal basis. Accessibility is one of the core issues we work on. Having been active since 1997, we have organised many informative events, prepared a wealth of information materials, and initiated several legislative changes specifically regarding environmental accessibility. We currently provide a great deal of consultation on how to properly design various facilities to ensure they are accessible.
The universal design of accessibility and its concept includes several principles that must be followed so that an environment is not only accessible to people in wheelchairs, people with visual or hearing difficulties, but also becomes (is) accessible to the elderly, parents with young children, and women who are expecting a baby—in other words, making the environment we live in more accessible to an ever-growing (as large as possible) number of people. There is a difference between accessibility and universal design—the latter ensures the opportunity for everyone to use it! We pay a great deal of attention to the urban environment and the ability to access facilities in cities, but we pay equal attention to rural sites—such as ponds, fishing spots, boat piers, and significant visitor attractions—to see if they are accessible. Often, accessibility is perceived as paving, “smoothing out,” or something similar. Not at all! It is possible to ensure accessibility while preserving the value of the environment (or object). My colleagues do this daily, travelling to regions, studying cultural and historical sites and attractions, and speaking with owners and municipalities about what should be observed to ensure a minimum level of accessibility. We try to educate architects and builders on how to ensure accessibility... We also educate people with disabilities who can get involved and help us as experts in environmental accessibility.
What has been the success of these conversations?
Jurģis: It varies. In many places, it takes very little to make a difference. Together with the Latvian Green Movement, in 2017 we travelled around nature sites in coastal areas owned by municipalities, where European funds had been invested in their development. We inspected several nature and tourist trails. For example, a boardwalk is being built. In the Ķemeri bog, there are ideal conditions for a bog trail to be accessible—the terrain is flat, there are no climbs, but… the boardwalk is too narrow! I am talking about accessibility not only for a person in a wheelchair but also for pushchairs. My friends with their newborn baby went to the Ķemeri trail, and their walk was a failure because only about a centimetre of space remained on the outer edge of the wheels. Who is this boardwalk built for? For healthy, fit people who have no problems, or for those interested in visiting? Similar boardwalk constructions are being built elsewhere as well.
A good example is in Kolka, where gravelled, compacted paths have been created. You can get to the sea through the forest without any worries...
Ivars: We were surprised in Roja! There is a trail along the seaside. Honestly, before our visit, we were quite sceptical: thinking, what could possibly be excellent in Roja... We went, we looked—everything is usable and accessible!
We are talking about flat terrain. What should be done if the area is hilly or uneven?
Jurģis: Everything will never be accessible, and that is not the point! The point is about places where accessibility can be addressed and ensured. Even on slopes, it is possible to feel safe; there are gradients where a person in a wheelchair can move with an assistant.
Ivars: One nature or tourist site can have several trails. For example, a green, a black, and a red one, where the green one is intended for children or people in wheelchairs, and the length of this trail is short. Of course, if the slopes are steeper and a certain part of the route is not recommended, this can be stated on signs, but with a shorter trail, one can still get a very good impression of what is in the area! It is about maximum participation for all people! Of course, we will not dig up and reshape dunes or hills, and we will not rebuild ancient buildings, but thinking about how every (!!!!) person could view or participate is very important!
First, the attitude must change. The most important thing is not the funding, which many emphasise, but the mindset! How do we think about our clients and visitors—who are the ones we are expecting, who will use the facility, who will come? For example, I once happened to call a guesthouse and ask: is everything necessary accessible, as we want to hold an event at their venue? The reply: “Yes, it is! The only thing is—we have two relatively high thresholds at the door, dining takes place on the ground floor, the bedrooms are on the first floor, and there is no toilet. Everything else is accessible!” The question is: “What exactly is accessible in this guesthouse?” You cannot get into the building, you cannot get to the bedrooms, and you cannot access the toilet! The understanding of the word “accessible,” as you can see, varies!
Are you called in to help when major public facilities are being designed or built?
Ivars: Sometimes, yes! The ratio (called vs. not called) could be 50:50! It happens that we are invited during the design or construction phase, or—as we have already mentioned—it happens that we are taken to a “finished” Ķemeri trail. Who approved this project, what were they thinking? It is often seen that regulations have “supposedly” been followed, but the use of the facility is “tortuous” and complicated—everything formally looks correct, but in fact, it was done just “for the sake of a tick-box”—practically, the facility is unusable.
You are said to have started a project on the accessibility of nature sites...
Ivars: The project idea was simple—we from “Apeirons” would look at Latvian nature sites and “create” an award for the seven best ones accessible to people with disabilities. The project is not yet finished; we were sent information to evaluate for about 400 places. Travelling to so many places... we ran out of time. In the future, we intend to continue and finish the work, because—as I said—the response is serious, and good work should be shown, and good examples should be highlighted!
Regarding the location of facilities, we have a mobile application running—a map of accessible facilities called “Mapeirons.” A person, when in a city or region, can find the nearest facilities accessible to them—whether it is a church, a museum, a toilet, or a place to eat.
Is your communication with owners and hosts, who might be interested in attracting visitors and guests, sufficient?
Ivars: It is, and it is interesting! For example, some years ago, it was necessary to organise summer camps. We call and ask: “Is there an accessible place by a lake or the sea?” Yes, everything is there, they say, come and see! We go... and the accessibility is what it is! Unfortunately, 20 people cannot stay there for a week. We have to look again, and the business owner misses out on money—I would say quite a lot of money! Some time passes, and we get a call from the same place informing us that we can come another time, as now everything is in order.
In Sweden, a study was once conducted: “every step at the entrance reduces a business owner's income by 15%.” We in the “Apeirons” office have about 15 people working every day, and the cafes in our neighbourhood that are easily accessible definitely have higher earnings, while those others “miss out.” Business owners should think about that!
Note: when changing the layout, the participants of the discussion wanted to see two (first and second) photographs of good examples of environmental accessibility next to the text.