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.
Accessible without difficulty
There
are a large number of technical aids for visually-impaired
or blind people.
Accessible with some difficulty
There are some technical aids for visually-impaired
or blind people.
Accessible with difficulty
There is one technical aid for visually-impaired
or blind people.
Accessible without difficulty
There
are a large number of technical aids for hard-of-hearing
or deaf people, and a Catalan Sign Language (CSL)
interpreter.
Accessible with some difficulty
There are some technical aids for hard-of-hearing
or deaf people, and/or a Catalan Sign Language
(CSL) interpreter.
Accessible with difficulty
There is a single technical aid for hard-of-hearing
or deaf people, or a Catalan Sign language (CSL)
interpreter.
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.
