This tourist guide aims to point out the
measures applied in the city of Barcelona to improve accessibility
and eliminate architectural and communication barriers.
We should underline that these measures improve the comfort
and quality of life of all the public, whether disabled
or not, as well as making a visit to the city for people
with reduced mobility or communication that much easier
for them and their families and companions.
People with
special needs are perfectly aware of how uncomfortable
it is going to a shop or museum with a group of friends
and, due to lack of information in the usual tourist guides,
are met with the surprise of not being able to enter the
premises; or not knowing beforehand whether there will
be a sign language interpreter available or if they will
be able to touch models, etc. In a society in which the
concept of solidarity is on the increase, we believe that
these aspects should be taken into account in any tourist
guide. With this in mind, to produce what you are now holding,
we have gone out into the street and checked for ourselves,
in situ and personally, the degree of accessibility of
each place described.
We have divided the guide into seven
areas, each of them corresponding to a symbolic part of
the city. In each area
the main accessible centres of tourist and cultural interest
are highlighted and there is also a selection of leisure
spots, ordered and classified according the criteria of
accessibility listed below. We have omitted those establishments
that are not accessible or which lack toilet services,
with some exception due to its specific tourist interest.
Accessibility to the physical
world
Barcelona is a fairly accessible city from the point
of view of the physical world, and the people are generally
aware of the problem of architectural barriers.
The establishments
and services written about appear ordered within each section
from greater to lesser accessibility,
and have been evaluated according to the following criteria:
Accessible
without difficulty
Level
ground access or on ramps with
a gentle slope, very wide doorways,
lift for six or more people,
adapted toilet services.
Accessible with
some difficulty
Access with projection or
step of 2 to 5 cm height, ramps
with a moderate slope, sufficiently
wide doorways, lift for five
people, adapted toilet services.
Help is required from another
person at one time or other.
Accessible only
with help
Access with projection or
step of 5 to 17 cm height,
ramps with pronounced slopes,
lift for four people, practicable
or useable toilet services
in remote or special places.
The help of another person
is essential.
Urban planning has also been classified
according to these three categories, being
the best-paved areas and with better
kerb ramps.
As regards transport, in each case the nearest means has
been shown, whether or not they are currently accessible,
since the fleet of buses and the network of underground stations
are in the process of adaptation (see Practical
Data).
Accessibility
to communication
The general public are not usually
aware of communication barriers, due
to the fact that the regional laws hardly
consider accessibility to communication
or that visual signs or auditory aid
are seriously lacking.
In each premises
or setting visited we specify what is
included to improve
accessibility for people with sensory
limitations. These buildings, establishments,
venues, settings and means of transport
that have some measure for eliminating
communication barriers are shown in
this guide with the logotypes (for
the blind) or (for
the deaf), following the same type
of classification for the architectural
barriers.
We hope that, with this information, whoever uses the guide
will find it a practical tool for enjoying the many attractions
of Barcelona with the utmost comfort and convenience possible.
Restaurants
In the case of restaurants we provide
a guideline price according to the
following classification:
(for
the blind) or 
(for
the deaf), following the same type
of classification for the architectural
barriers.