NGO supporting the government with an accessible response to the pandemic

The Belgian NGO Inter has developed measures to address the isolation of people with disabilities during the pandemic. These include guidelines for social distancing and accessibility of vaccination centres as well as the online platform Circuit Sortie, which brings together both people with and without disabilities for activities in small groups.

Inter is a local NGO based in Hasselt, Flanders, advocating for accessibility and inclusivity. To support inclusion during the pandemic and social distancing, and to fight the isolation of people with disabilities, Inter launched several initiatives. These include an online meeting platform, guidelines for the social distancing society, and accessibility guidelines for vaccination centres. Inter’s activities were widely shared by the government as well as on regional television and in local newspapers.

Problems Targeted

The pandemic raised several disability-related challenges for people with disabilities, such as increased isolation, inability to lip read due to face masks, and difficulties in social distancing.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Inter implemented several measures to ensure that people with disabilities were not left isolated during the pandemic. It created inclusive guidelines for the community during social distancing restrictions, and it supported governments and businesses to make their decisions and buildings as accessible as possible while adhering to COVID-19 regulations. In addition, guidelines were specifically developed and published to make vaccination centres more accessible to all. In response to daily life and work shifting rapidly to online, Inter developed guidelines through consultations with blind and hearing-impaired people for accessible online meetings and webinars. It also created a new online platform – called Circuit Sortie – that brought together both people with and without disabilities for activities in small groups. Inter’s activities were broadly supported, used by the government, and covered by the media. Through the Circuit Sortie IT-platform, almost 200 individuals have been matched to provide each other with company and support during the pandemic.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Inter is a direct partner of the Flemish Government and approximately a third of its work is funded by the Department of Equal Opportunities. In rolling out Circuit Sortie, Inter worked with the Health Department of the Flemish Government. It aims to continue and grow Circuit Sortie beyond the pandemic as the initiative has proven to bring people together and improve inclusion in a sustainable way.

Pictures

Transparent face masks enabling lip reading is just one of the many diverse measures introduced by Inter during the pandemic

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