Campaigns and activities
The accessibility of roads, transport and buildings for people with a disability is regulated in national and cantonal laws.
The disability-equity law and the belonging regulations have to be mentioned. Especially for the domains of public transport and roads.
Then there exist normative standards for accessible construction and buildings. Currently normative standards for unobstructed public space are in political consultation.
The legislative measures above concern all people with a disability. Of course certain measures are intended for visual impaired people. For example special markings or loud speaker announcements in the public transport.
There exist special institutions for accessible construction and for a barrier-free public transport. Also there exist special interest groups for people with a visual impairment in the domains of public space, transport, roads and constructions.
Yes, but it is an on-going task.
Some organisations as the Swiss federation of blind and visual impaired people (SBV) are entitled to claim and take position on aspects of accessibility.
Also guide dogs and smartphones (some applications).
The distribution is unknown. There is no useful data available so far.
All regional information and consulting centres for people with a visual impairment provide mobility training. The Swiss federation of blind and visual impaired people (SBV) offers user training for smartphones.
The disability insurance funds some of these mobility aids.
Again the disability insurance finances for example the repairs of a broken white cane.
Yes. In the public transport and road traffic the white cane is recognized as a symbol of visual impairment. For example the white cane means right of way in the road traffic (legally determined).
Autonomous indoor navigation systems are engineered and tested by some Swiss institutes of technology. These new navigation systems could be helpful for people with a visual impairment in the near future.
Instructors for mobility and orientation provide training in regional information and consulting centres and in special schools for people with a visual impairment. Children and adolescents in regular school can get the necessary support and training in special schools and institutions.
Professionals for the rehabilitation of blind and visual impaired people. The training course can be completed at the Swiss umbrella organisation for blind and visual impaired people (SZB).
Yes, the training is recognized by an official certificate.
Training and learning common routes with a white cane or a guide dog.
On-the-job training is certainly part of the training course.
Training in low vision and daily life practical skills.
The special support is called "life-practical skills" (besides training in low vision).
Again professionals for rehabilitation of blind and visual impaired people.
The training course can be completed at the Swiss umbrella organisation for blind and visual impaired people (SZB).
Yes, the training is recognized by an official certificate.
Annually at the 15 October the Swiss organisations for blind and visual impaired people campaign for more public awareness.
Yes, again the Swiss umbrella organization for blind and visual impaired people (SZB) offers further training for professionals who interact daily with visual impaired people.