Luxor
and Karnak Temples are among the first ancient sites to see improvements, with
wooden ramps and paths for wheelchairs, along with information boards
accessible to those with impaired sight and hearing. Written By/ Nevine El-Aref.
Egypt's
antiquities ministry has launched a project to make archaeological sites and
museums more accessible to people with disabilities, starting with improvements
to Luxor Museum and the temples of Karnak and Luxor.
Sherif
Abdel Moneim, supervisor of the ministry's Development of Archaeological Sites
department, told Ahram Online that the project will bring improved mobility for
those in wheelchairs, as well as making information more accessible to those
with impaired sight and hearing.
Special
paths will be constructed at Karnak and Luxor to facilitate the movement of
wheelchairs, while information boards will be put up that are accessible to
those with disabilities. A documentary film on display at the visitor center
will have sign-language incorporated.
The
toilets, meanwhile, will be renovated and equipped to suit special-needs
visitors, according to international standards.
Mustafa
Al-Saghir, director-general of Karnak Antiquities, explained a few of the
improvements planned for the Karnak Temple site. The podium area and the area
between the Teharaka column and the open-air museum will feature ramps
measuring 1.5 metres in width, he explained, while a wooden slope will be
installed from the start of the Avenue of Sphinxes.
The
ministry is conducting the project in partnership with an Egyptian NGO called
Helm (which translates into English as "Dream") that specialises in
promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life,
including access to public premises.
Eman
Zidan, supervisor of the ministry's Financial Resources Development Department,
said that the project to improve accessibility at archaeological sites
highlights the role of NGOs in serving the community.
