When you think of Croatia’s popularity as a tourist destination, it’s surprising we’re not yet hard at work to make more places accessible to people with disabilities. Of course, this should be a priority of local authorities everywhere regardless of tourism, but if we want to promote the country as welcoming and safe, we should strive to really mean that on all fronts.
Split has recently seen an almost absurd case about the local branch of the Institute for Expert Evaluation, Professional Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Disabilities. As it turns out, the building doesn’t have adequate access for its main users: people with disabilities! It’s hard to even find words to describe how much this sounds like a farce; another one to mark under ‘only in Croatia’.
The story doesn’t stop there: Za pristupačni Split (For Accessible Split) Facebook group published a photo of a toilet signpost on Peristil. The signpost is there to point tourists to toilets for men, women, and disabled people. Do you see where it’s installed? Yes, at the bottom of stairs that don’t really seem wheelchair-friendly.
As stated in multiple comments coming from group members, there’s a different route that goes around the corner and takes you to another entrance of the accessible toilet, but it still wouldn’t be that hard to include that information on the signpost itself, especially in the peak of the tourist season. This way, we’re just left with an impression someone is mocking people.
Source: Dalmacija danas
