Accessibility Day brings together people and organisations

The event celebrating Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) once again brings together various organisations to offer valuable insights into accessibility. This year’s Accessibility Day’s theme is community, which reminds us that we all need each other and each other’s support.

In addition to physical accessibility, many people also need help in order to leave their home and participate in leisure activities, for example. Close family members and potential personal assistants are important, but they are not a given for everyone, explains Elisabeth Hästbacka, Accessibility Coordinator.

In line with the theme, Accessibility Day aims to give visibility to organisations and individuals promoting volunteer friendship services, peer support, and inclusion. Another aim is to share up-to-date information on accessibility in Vaasa’s cultural and leisure venues, as well as the availability of adaptive exercise equipment rental in the city.

Lowering the barrier to new encounters

The GAAD event offers participants the opportunity to find people to chat with. At the ‘Talk to Someone New’ chat corner, people who don’t know each other can meet and chat in a relaxed setting.

The chat corner will have materials available to support the conversations. The idea is to boost a sense of community and bring together people from diverse backgrounds. Talking to new people may brighten the day, reduce loneliness, and create unexpected connections.

Read more about volunteer friendship services and other meeting points in Vaasa: Meeting places | Vaasa

Organisations will present their activities

The associations and organisations participating in Accessibility Day will showcase their activities throughout the event at their stands, with some also giving short presentations on stage. The aim is to raise awareness of the support available and help event participants find activities that interest and suit them.

The participating organisations include Friend Card Activity, SAMS, Wellbeing Services County of Ostrobothnia, friendship services of the Finnish parish in Vaasa, Ostrobothnia Association of the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL), Pohjanmaan ensi- ja turvakoti ry, Vaasan Mielenterveystoiminnan Tuki ry, Finnish Red Cross, Hörselföreningen i Vasanejden and Distriktsföreningen Vasa Svenska Synskadade rf.

Accessibility Day warmly welcomes everyone interested in accessibility. The event is free of charge and open to everyone, with the programme available in three languages. The atrium of Rewell shopping centre is an accessible space. Written interpretation will be available on-site, and the organisers will also aim to provide bilingual sign language interpretation.

Programme 15 May

• 15.00–15.10 Welcome address, Frans Villanen, Chair of the Vaasa Disability Council, Tuula Jäntti, Executive Director of Ostrobothnian Associations POHY, and Elisabeth Hästbacka, Accessibility Coordinator.
• 15.10–15.20 Presentation of the Talk to Someone New campaign, Senni Korhonen, Coordinator and Secretary of the Vaasa Senior Citizens’ Council
• 15.20–16.00 Presentations by various organisations and stakeholders, followed by questions and discussion
• 16.00–16.10 Break and an opportunity to explore the stands
• 16.10–16.20 Information on accessibility at various cultural and leisure venues, Elisabeth Hästbacka, Accessibility Coordinator
• 16.20–17.00 Presentations by various organisations and stakeholders, followed by questions and discussion
• 17.00–17.10 Break and an opportunity to explore the stands
• 17.10–17.50 Presentations by various organisations and stakeholders, followed by questions and discussion
• 17.50–18.00 Raffle and closing remarks

The Accessibility Day event is organised by the Vaasa Disability Council in collaboration with the Vaasa Senior Citizens’ Council, the Multiculturalism Council, and Ostrobothnian Associations POHY.