City map of sidewalk conditions in Görlitz old town

The student project group “WEG[GE]RECHT.” developed a city map detailing the condition of sidewalks in Görlitz’s Old Town. It is intended primarily to help people with limited mobility find their way around. The map was created as part of a project at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in the Special Needs Education/Inclusion Studies degree programme, with Prof. Dr. phil. Petra Fuchs serving as the project advisor, and is now available at various stores, lodging facilities, and cafés.

On May 5, 2017, during the Day of Action for Equality for People with Disabilities, the student group “Altstadt für alle” launched the project “Herein gerollt.” The project focused on the use of portable ramps, which can provide practical and affordable access to many locations in Görlitz’s Old Town. The idea behind the city map and its implementation are now linked to this same cause. The map marks the stores that now have ramps, as well as accessible restrooms, benches, accessible parking spaces, and steeper inclines. The three students plan to use the city map to submit an application for the Saxon Inclusion Award in the coming days.

The Görlitz district, which provides financial support for the “WEG[GE]RECHT.” project, welcomes the students’ initiative and views the Görlitz city map as a starting point for additional city maps—for example, maps for Weißwasser or Zittau. Matthias Reuter hopes the project will continue and would also like to see close collaboration with decision-makers at all levels, because every project that breaks down barriers in public spaces is a small step toward inclusion. The Görlitz district considers it its mission to raise public awareness about breaking down barriers on the streets and in people’s minds.