They highlighted the need for accessibility for the disabled (photo + vid)
Torchlight procession was organized by the Municipality of Thessaloniki with the participation of people with disabilities – They highlighted the importance of accessibility for the disabled
With torches per hand and wanting to highlight the importance of protection representatives in every aspect of everyday life Disabled organizations crossed the route from the town hall to the White Tower, in the center of Thessaloniki, in view of the 3rd of December, which has been established as World Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The torch relay organized by the Municipality of Thessaloniki was made with the participation of people with disabilities, a representative of the Special Entertainment Center for Creative Employment of People with Disabilities of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, the Down Syndrome Association of Greece, the Panhellenic Association.
Shortly before the start of the torchlight procession and in anticipation of Christmas, they chanted the “Bright Star”, wanting to give a more festive note to this symbolic action.
The mayor of Thessaloniki, Konstantinos Zervas, noted that today’s torchlight procession has a special symbolism. “We have our eye on our daily lives in the accesses of people with disabilities constantly,” said the mayor and added that “we are very happy that the construction of the first park in Greece for everyone with additions to people with disabilities begins in a few months.”
“There is access to most parks in our municipality. We must make sure we have access to all municipal buildings. There should be special places for people with disabilities that so far are very few. “All of them are members of our administration”, he notes characteristically.
“They are valuable and they must feel equal citizens,” he concluded.
The purpose of this symbolic action was to highlight the invitations faced by people with disabilities. This was also underlined by the Mayor’s special advisor for disability issues, Giannis Kastouras. “For us, the people with disabilities, tomorrow is like the other 364 days, that is, what I want from all our fellow citizens does not have the same sensitivity all year round,” he said, adding that the municipality is the first in Greece to create an access park for all.
“The municipality of Thessaloniki has proceeded to sign a memorandum with Undersecretary Domna Michailidou for its construction “Park for all”, which will be a huge green space in Toumba, accessible for both children with normal development and children with disabilities “, he noted, while adding that the municipality of Thessaloniki is the only municipality in Greece that in half the parks toys and for children with disabilities so to include, to acquaint children with it, “because children are the hope for a better tomorrow”.
The Deputy Mayor for Social Policy was also present at the action, Harris Aidonopoulos.
“Today’s torchlight procession is dedicated to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and is carried out in compliance with all measures for the pandemic and with distances. We in the municipality of Thessaloniki believe in the equality of each of our fellow human beings, in all aspects of our daily lives, which is why the torchlight procession from the municipality to the White Tower is done because we want to show that everything is possible “, stressed the deputy mayor.