A city adapted to the needs of the disabled

Zagreb’s cultural institutions, hotels and recreational centres have been adapted to suit the needs of the disabled, allowing them to benefit from every aspect of city life. They can also experience the city’s atmosphere, enjoy its warm welcome and partake in city tours in sign language.

Most of Zagreb’s museums and galleries now have accessibility for people with easy access needs. All of them have been specifically marked in the tourist brochures provided by the Zagreb Tourist Board. Disabled guests can now visit the Klovićevi Dvori Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Arts and Crafts, the Technical Museum, the Museum of Broken Relationships, the Dražen Petrović Memorial Centre as well as many other museums and galleries. Among them is the Typhlological Museum – one of the rare museums specializing in problems of disabled persons, particularly the visually-impaired. This modern and interactive museum promotes the idea of acknowledging differences as its core value. From the entrance where a tactile map of the museum provides basic information, floor strips guide visually-impaired visitors towards the rest of the exhibits. All the labels are in an enlarged print and Braille. There is plenty of space for people in wheelchairs to move between the exhibits, while all video presentations are supported by subtitles for the benefit of the hearing impaired.

Apart from the cultural institutions and other city landmarks, recreational zones around the city that have been adapted to people with easy access needs include a multi-sensory park at the Jarun sports and recreation centre. Located on the southern side of Jarun, blind and visually-impaired visitors of the park can feel, taste and smell the plants and fruits as well as listen to the murmur of the leaves and thus enjoy direct contact with nature. The labels are all in Braille. Path direction changes are marked by different walking surfaces, curbs, mobile structures and aromatic plants. All paths provide easy orientation for blind people and there is enough room for wheelchairs to pass by each other. The park also features a chess set for blind persons. 

The popular Medvednica Nature Park has also been adapted to the needs of disabled persons. The design and features of the Bliznec forest trail, which was constructed under a motto “difference must not be an obstacle for the freedom of movement”, fully conform to the requirements of the disabled. The 800 metre-long trail stretches along the Bliznec stream from the base of the old cable-car to the Pilana Bliznec restaurant. It can be used by everyone, including the mobility impaired, blind and visually-impaired persons. The trail is wide enough to provide easy wheelchair access in both directions, and it has a mild 5 degree slant so that wheelchair-bound people do not need to rely on the help of others to negotiate it. Along the trail, there are information boards in regular writing as well as Braille. The trail features Stations of the Cross also marked in Braille and several rest areas. Zagreb also offers sightseeing tours in sign language, led by one of the first European tour guides licensed to provide guided tours for the deaf.