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Eliminating communication barriers
This is an educational guideline on elimination of communication barriers identified with the matrix (see Self-determined nature experience). It supports nature conservationists and pedagogical personal of conservation centres to learn how to overcome communication barriers when working with impaired people and shows methodology how to implement the measures for a self-determined (unguided) nature experience. The brochure comes with 6 appendices and gives a practical and comprehensive support: We show how to create audio-guides for nature trails, both, equipped with information signs and without any additional information. The use of 3D- Materials, sign and easy-to-read language for nature experiences are further points is described in the guideline. Common technical terms are compiled in different languages.
Audio guides
One obvious and frequently used tool for blind and visually impaired people serving everyone are audio guides. Audio guides provide unique opportunities for nature conservation centres, as they do not need any installed information signs etc., but can rely on the knowledge of the locality and provide information for both, visually impaired and visually un-impaired people. At Lake Balaton in Hungary, some general audible information was provided in the Balaton Upland National Park, accessible with smartphone via homepage and indicated in some signs. For equipped trails, audio guides can provide an added value, as more people will make use of them.
Example transcriptions for download: Żmigród City Park (Poland), Wollmatinger Ried (Germany).
Inclusive video about Milicz Ponds
3D- Materials
Our documentation gives some guidelines about the objects to be touched. Touch is especially crucial for blind and visually impaired people. Also other groups of people, so called tactile learners, can retain information better by touching the described objects. Examples are replica of (parts of) plants/ animals, stuffed animals, outdoor and indoor installations, feathers/ fur/ seeds, fruits etc. We provide information on the kind of materials that can be used, if they can be manufactured in house or must be procured externally, how costs can be minimised. For the concrete offers for nature experience in the partner areas, a three dimensional leaflet with information on the area and on specific offers for blind and visually impaired people is produced in Poland. In a DIN A4 card with information in braille and information in elevated lines about endangered species and typical birds. Moreover, we give guidance on several other opportunities and easy to apply and adopt options for touchable materials.
Examples of the usage of 3D/Braille materials for education purposes for download here.
Sign language
Deaf people, people with hearing impairments or people who cannot physically speak use visual means of communication like gestures, facial expression and body language. To make nature come alive for people dependent on sign language, we adopted several options to include sign language in various videos (see correspondent links). For sign language, there are some relevant internet resources for many languages gathered here.
Project materials on sign language for download here.
Simple language
The provision of information in simple language is essential for people with learning difficulties, people who cannot read well or are not able to read at all, deaf people, foreign tourists, elderly, children and adolescents, and everybody wanted to learn about nature without knowing technical terms. In contrast to other areas of accessibility, there are no uniform rules for a simple language (not to confound with easy language which is not easy to apply). But there are basic rules that should be considered when writing in simple language, e.g. short sentences, no technical terms, numbers in digits, daily life examples, etc. On the basis of technical terms used on the webpages of all partners, a compilation of the most important terms on conservation was gathered and adopted on all languages. It can be supplemented depending on use. The videos mentioned above use simple language. A comprehensive guideline provides information on the production of such videos.
Project materials on simple language definitions of technical terms for download here.
Additional material for download:
Guideline
will be available soon here .....