Vaud Promotion and Pro Infirmis have been working together since 2018 to offer a selection of tourist sites and services with guaranteed accessibility
Throughout Switzerland, Pro Infirmis advises, accompanies and supports people with physical, intellectual or mental disabilities and their families. In three years, the association's representatives have audited some 200 providers throughout the canton of Vaud. Tourism offers that meet the accessibility criteria defined by Pro Infirmis are then listed on the accessibility page of the Vaud Promotion website. A filter function enables visitors to search according to the type of disability and the style of activity, and a link to the Pro Infirmis site provides access to all the additional information required.
From Chillon Castle to the Olympic Museum, or the estate of winegrower Henri Cruchon, the selection is extensive and continues to expand. The Arboretum du Vallon de l'Aubonne is now accessible to people with reduced mobility, for example, thanks to an all-terrain wheelchair with an adapted chassis and electric control. The wheelchair can be reserved in advance, and allows visitors to explore two customised routes of 2.2 and 3.3 kilometres in length.
Other projects such as the OK:GO initiative also aim to facilitate accessibility. Launched by the association Accessibility Switzerland it invites tourism providers to enter the accessibility details of their offering in a free app called ginto. Finally, Morges Région Tourisme and Pays-d'Enhaut Région are working on developing disability-compatible packages within the framework of the Accessible Holidays in Switzerland launched by the Claire & George Foundation.
