Barrier-free access for Kirch Stück: A win for all visitors!

Barrier-free access for Kirch Stück: A win for all visitors!

Something is happening in Kirch Stück that makes the hearts of all visitors beat faster. The church, which attracts more than 1,000 guests every year, is now finally barrier-free. The chairman of the support association, Jürgen Hansen, has adequately pointed out the deficiencies: The official access leads over the busy B106 and is anything but safe for pedestrians. Many visitors therefore resort to a narrow strip of grass - and as we all know, that is neither safe nor comfortable.

With a new, well thought-out plan, the stumbling blocks should finally disappear. A barrier-free path with a solid surface is planned, which will make the church accessible to everyone in the future. Illuminated and clearly signposted, the new entrance from the car park will guide people. In addition, a separate pedestrian access is to be created and bicycle racks and parking spaces are to be integrated between the choir and the workshop chapel. In an impressive commitment, the support association has already provided 6,000 euros, while the MV Citizens' Fund is providing an impressive 45,000 euros. The total costs amount to 56,000 euros, and the support association hopes to also receive support from the Rudolf Dankwardt Foundation.

Does accessibility come from Cologne?

This commitment has a deep cultural context. The cultural administration attaches great importance to the participation of all people, especially those with disabilities, in cultural life. In accordance with the UN Convention on Persons with Disabilities, cultural policy is committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring a diverse cultural landscape. As berlin.de shows, raising awareness in cultural institutions is crucial.

The awareness-raising component should not be neglected. Article 8 of the UN CRPD requires that information for the general public also be accessible to people with disabilities. It becomes clear here that access to culture requires not only structural but also communicative accessibility.

Culture for everyone

As part of these relevant efforts, the Commissioner for the Disabled is also committed to an inclusive cultural policy. The participation of people with disabilities in cultural life is encouraged with programs ranging from barrier-free cultural events to exhibitions and panel discussions. The aim is to make artists with disabilities visible and to make cultural institutions aware of their responsibility. This can also be seen in the program of “Kultur im Kleisthaus”, which offers barrier-free and free events to strengthen inclusion, as behindertenkommenter.de reports.

The involvement in Kirch Stück is therefore not just a local endeavor, but fits seamlessly into a larger cultural discourse that gives people with disabilities a voice and breaks down barriers. It's a step in the right direction that will hopefully be implemented by the end of the year, with construction scheduled to begin in the summer.