Comfortable tours for special people: RUSSIA EXPO has created an accessible space for everyone
Over the past few years Russia has been actively working on creating an accessible environment. An excellent example of this are the expositions and pavilions of the International RUSSIA EXPO. VDNH is developing an inclusive ecosystem where everyone feels comfortable, regardless of their needs and peculiarities.
The problem of accessible environment is not uncommon. For example, it is sometimes difficult for mothers with strollers to get from point A to point B. Including when visiting different public spaces and cultural events. However, on the territory of the exposition one can forget about such difficulties.
"There were no questions at the entrance, they let me through with a stroller without any problems. The entrance is convenient, it is also comfortable for us to walk around the expositions here. If you need to take your child in your arms and go somewhere, you can leave the stroller near the stand, it will not bother anyone. I think that we will come back here more than once in six months, I haven’t even gone around one pavilion", - said Varvara Voynova, a young mother.
According to Varvara, she really wanted to visit the exposition, but she couldn’t leave her 8-month-old son. In the end, both mother and child felt quite comfortable at the exposition.
The objects of the exposition are also accessible for people with limited mobility. Most of the pavilions are equipped with ramps, elevators or special lifting mechanisms. Moreover, several free services are also available on the territory of VDNH: access to the territory, parking lots with places for disabled people, special transportation for people with limited mobility, and equipped toilets. Details can be found on the VDNH website in the section «VDNH Inclusive Service».
Many activities at the exposition will also be appreciated by blind and visually impaired visitors. All expositions are immersive: many exhibits are based on auditory, tactile and even olfactory perception. For example, at the stand of the Kursk region you can learn how blooming clover, fresh bread and even lightning smells. And at the stand of the Tambov region you can not only listen to, but also play your own melody.
"Volunteers helped me perform an excerpt from the piece to Beethoven’s "Elise" with the help of a virtual piano. The keys are on the floor and respond to the touch of your foot. I just had to get the steps right. But it’s hard if you can’t see where to step. I made a lot of mistakes, but it was fun", - said Vlad Mironov, a blind visitor to the exposition.
He said that he also plans to listen to the sounds of the sea at the stand of the Primorye region and folk songs sung at several stands.
An audio guide has been recorded for each exposition. Many famous artists and performers gave their voices to the RUSSIA EXPO. For example, Sergey Bezrukov welcomes the guests of the Moscow region, and People’s Artist of Russia Nikita Mikhalkov and Olympic champion Tatyana Navka accompany the visitors of the Rosneft pavilion. By the way, singer and dubbing actress Nyusha became the official voice of the RUSSIA EXPO. Audio guides are available directly at the exposition site and online.
The concert programme in honour of the opening of the National Centre RUSSIA branch in the Primorye region will take place on 7 September at 16:00 on the Sportivnaya Embankment.
