Monte Albán is now an inclusive archaeological zone for people with disabilities

Monte Albán is now an inclusive archaeological zone for people with disabilities

Oaxaca, Oax., Accessibility is a very important right, which is why in recent years a project has been worked on in the archaeological zone of Monte Albán through which people with disabilities can enter this area, in order to appreciate the vestiges of this important Zapotec city.

The deputy director of the area, David Andrade Olvera, explained that for years there had been the intention to make the area more accessible, since it is considered that knowledge should be available to everyone, which is why the project began to be devised, which This month it reached its third stage, turning the place into an inclusive archaeological zone.

Andrade Olvera indicated that although people can access information about this historical site through books or the Internet, it is of utmost importance that they can also live it, see it and feel it, which is why in the first stage the tours for people were put into operation. who require a wheelchair to get around.

Subsequently, tours for people with hearing disabilities were started, for which guides were prepared in sign language, which was a challenge, because, although there is an official Mexican language, each state has its own version, so that the preparation has been constant and sometimes complicated, in addition to the fact that on some occasions the payments for the courses have had to come out of the pocket of the guides themselves, due to the lack of budget in the institution.

However, despite the challenges, this project has been carried out, thanks to which information about this archaeological zone, founded in the year 500 BC, can be provided to those who need it.

Finally, this month it was possible to implement the phase dedicated to the blind or visually impaired, who can now come and be part of a tour in which they are explained in a specialized way and can feel the constructions, in such a way that they experience an immersive tour.

Andrade Olvera explained that in coordination with the Faculty of Architecture of the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca, models of buildings have been created, so that they can feel and appreciate the structures.

He reported that this phase is still a pilot, as there are tasks to improve, such as the models, which are not complete and require signs in Braille.

David Andrade pointed out that it is necessary for society to find out about these tours, since it is important for Oaxacan society to know that there are fewer and fewer impediments to approaching our culture.

For his part, Édgar Cruz Luján, who is a blind person, recognized this project, because although he had already visited the archaeological zone, it did not make much sense to him, because he lacked the information and for him it was just walls and stones.

“Today there has been a real change… Today for me every step, every wall that I touched took on meaning; Today my perspective changed,” he noted.

By Editor

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