Welcome to "Voices for Change." In this unit, we explore how rules and systems affect people's rights and daily lives. Today, we're looking at a major global event—the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games—to see what we can learn about making spaces more inclusive for everyone. We'll pay special attention to innovative technologies and solutions designed for specific disabilities, taking these big ideas and applying them to our own local communities.
A More Accessible Paris: Innovative Solutions for All
Accessibility at the Paris Paralympics
This video from Newsround explores how accessible Paris was for people with disabilities during the Games, highlighting both the successes and the challenges, including transportation and venue access.
Video Transcript
This year's Paralympics have just finished. Lots of athletes and spectators I spoke to said they really enjoyed them. The accessibility at the venues was good, and most people had a great time. As with any Paralympic city, things can become more difficult for disabled people once they leave the site. I had a go at getting around Paris myself to see what it was like. [ 00:22 ]
The head of Paris's transport system, RATP, says Paris's bus lines are now fully accessible. However, there can be quite a few buses to take to go between different monuments and attractions. After I'd met one of the famous locals, I wanted to try the Metro. We tried a few different metro stops and ended up going to the Pyramides, which is not too far from the Louvre. [ 01:06 ]
There's a total of 16 Metro lines in Paris, and they're all labeled by numbers. This Metro is a bit like the London Underground, and lots of people in the city use it to get around. The only metro line with accessible stops is line 14, which runs between an airport and an area called Saint-Denis. There's also the RER, which has accessible stops and double-decker trains. [ 01:41 ]
After checking out this very fancy part of the city, I wanted to head to the heart of both the Paralympic Games and the iconic City of Paris, the Champs-Élysées. You can see the famous Arc de Triomphe behind me there with the Paralympic agitos right on the front. Now, it has been a challenge getting around Paris today for many different reasons. It is an old city, I accept that, and they've got plenty of open spaces like this. It's been a great Paralympic Games, but would I come here as a tourist? I think I would struggle, and I think many other people who are in a similar position to me would also find Paris quite a difficult city to get around. [ 02:40 ]
Famous Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson agrees that public transport in cities like Paris will always be an issue in old cities, but she says that the one legacy of these games is the change in people's attitudes towards helping disabled people get around. The focus now is on the next games, which is being held in Los Angeles in the USA. [ 03:00 ]
The International Paralympic Committee told Newsround that feedback from the Paris 2024 Paralympic Village was excellent. It's also said that as with all Paralympic Games, there are key learnings that the IPC can take away and share with future host cities and organizing committees to improve the experience for all attending. [ 03:20 ]
For the 2024 Games, Paris made significant efforts to improve accessibility, aiming to ensure that visitors with disabilities could navigate the city and enjoy the events. As the video shows, while the venues themselves were highly accessible, the city's older infrastructure, like the Metro, presented ongoing challenges. However, beyond general transport improvements like the 100% accessible bus network, some truly innovative solutions were deployed.
One remarkable innovation was the tactile tablet, specifically designed for visually impaired spectators. This small, handheld device allows users to follow ball sports in real time. A magnetic puck moves across its surface, mirroring the exact position of the ball, while vibrations provide haptic feedback about the intensity of the action. This was combined with live audio descriptions, giving a comprehensive sensory experience to those who cannot see the game.
Other vital measures included live audio descriptions for vision-impaired fans and live captioning for those who are deaf or hard of hearing at event venues. These changes were designed not just for the Games but as a lasting legacy for the city, leading to better infrastructure and a more inclusive experience for residents and tourists long after the closing ceremony.
Demonstration of a Tactile Tablet
This video shows how a visually impaired person can follow a live sports match using a tactile tablet that tracks the ball's movement.
Video Transcript
The ball is here, and here, the touch here, and have a sensation to know where the ball is in the field, you know. So my work is here to show them where is the ball. [ 00:00:14 ]
When the ball is outside like this, I press number six, so you hear the sound number six here, and they know that the ball is stopped, you know. [ 00:00:26 ]
And when you have a goal, I press one, and they have a sensation that it's a goal because it's a big ring. [ 00:00:35 ]
When you don't see the ball or the match, you can help them to know where the ball is. So this technology is, I think, it's a good thing for them. [ 00:00:46 ]
Language Focus: Evaluation & Purpose
When we discuss solutions like the ones in Paris, we need language to evaluate how good they are and to explain their purpose.
Evaluative Language
We use adjectives to describe whether a plan is good, bad, realistic, or unrealistic.
- Effective / Ineffective: Does it work well?
The new tactile tablet was an incredibly effective way to engage visually impaired fans.
- Sufficient / Insufficient: Is it enough?
Providing captions is a great step, but it's insufficient for someone who also needs detailed audio description for a live event.
- Feasible / Unfeasible: Is it possible to do, considering time and money?
While developing the tactile tablet was a complex task, its impact proved it to be a feasible investment for truly inclusive events.
Clauses of Purpose and Result
We use specific structures to explain why an action was taken (purpose) and what happened because of it (result).
- So that (Purpose): Explains the goal of an action.
Form: Action + so that + Subject + Modal (can/could/will/would) + Verb.
Paris developed tactile tablets so that visually impaired spectators could experience the dynamic movement of the games.
- Leading to (Result): Explains the outcome of an action.
Form: Action/Situation, leading to + Noun/Gerund.
The innovative technologies were a success, leading to a more inclusive and engaging experience for all visitors.
Gap-Spotting: Audit a Campus Event
Instructions
Work in small groups of three. Think about a regular event at your school or campus, like a graduation ceremony, a sports day, or a cultural festival.
Your task is to perform a quick accessibility audit. Discuss how inclusive the event is for people with different disabilities, including those with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments. Use the five features below as your guide. Is the current situation effective or insufficient?
- Seating: Are there reserved, easy-to-access spots for people using wheelchairs?
- Signage: Is the signage large, clear, and easy to read from a distance? Does it use universal symbols, and are there tactile versions for visually impaired individuals?
- Routes: Are the paths to the event smooth and free of obstacles like stairs? Are there clear auditory cues or guiding lines for people with visual impairments?
- Captions & Audio: If there are speakers or videos, are there live captions or a sign language interpreter? Is there clear audio description for visually impaired attendees?
- Quiet Rooms: Is there a designated quiet space for people who might feel overwhelmed by noise and crowds?
Share your group's findings with the class.
Design Sprint: Draft an Access Plan
Instructions
Now, let's move from spotting problems to designing solutions.
Your group's task is to draft a simple, one-page accessibility plan for the event you audited. Your plan should propose feasible and effective improvements. Think about how you can incorporate innovative ideas, perhaps inspired by the Paris Games, to address specific needs. Use the grammar from this lesson to explain your ideas.
Answer these four questions in your plan:
- What? What specific changes will you make? (e.g., "Install temporary ramps over the three main stairs," or "Pilot a simplified tactile display for key moments in a sports match.")
- Who? Who is responsible for implementation? (e.g., "The student union facilities team.")
- When? When will this be done? (e.g., "In the week before the event.")
- How will we tell people? How will you communicate these features so that people know about them? (e.g., "We will create a social media post with a map of accessible routes and details about new sensory accommodations.")
Aim to create a plan that could realistically be implemented.
Exit: One Small Fix
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