Bruce Bucknell: Accessibility is more an issue of will than resources

Accessibility is not only a physical issue, but also a mental one, the issue of stereotypes existing in the society, said the British ambassador to Belarus when opening Accessibility Week in Minsk.

 The grand opening of the Accessibility Week – 2015 took place on April 24 and at the same time the exhibition of posters “Accessibility is -…” opened for visitors in Gallery TUT.BY.

- We want to remind the public that disability is not a barrier itself, - said during the opening of the Accessibility Week – 2015 the coordinator of the Office for the rights of persons with disabilities Siarhei Drazdouski. – It is very important for us that difficult notions would be translated to simple and understandable for everyone language. That is why we invite everyone to visit our events in order to understand what changes the environment needs.

As the press service of the Office for the rights of persons with disabilities informs, this year, as during the previous years, about a dozen organizations have joined the Office’s initiative. They will talk about accessibility in different regions.

- Accessibility is not only a physical issue, but also a mental one, the issue of stereotypes, which exist in the society. The issue is not only in resources but in will as well. This is the problem of priorities because it is very easy to refer to other priorities. You need a certain will to create justice in the society, – said the British ambassador to Belarus Bruce Bucknell. – That is why such initiatives as Accessibility Week are very important.

As the “EuroBelarus” Information Service earlier informed, exhibition of posters “Accessibility is -…” opened its doors together with the opening of the Accessibility Week.

- I sincerely consider that artists are able to find a short way through language, social, age and mental barriers and to find simple solutions and to explain very complicated things in a simple way, – shared her point of view the curator of the Gallery TUT.BY Tatiana Bebel. – The exhibition of poster is a very good example.

Let us remind you that during all the Office’s event there will be a possibility to take a piece of the exhibition with you: the organizers have prepared a series of postcards which are small copies of the posters. Moreover: you can send a postcard with gratitude or with a complaint to people who you consider can influence accessibility in you town.