Adapted chairs launched for inclusive mountain access
The Natural Park of Alt Pirineu has introduced two new Joëlette chairs to enable people with reduced mobility to take part in guided excursions and explore natural trails that are inaccessible to standard wheelchairs. The chairs, which were officially handed over on Tuesday by the Provincial Council of Lleida, are equipped with electric assistance and are specifically designed for rough terrain. They will be available free of charge to accredited educators and guides, with the aim of supporting inclusive educational activities in natural environments.
Training and protocol for safe use
All schools in the Alt Pirineu and Aran regions will receive training, and at least one teacher from each centre must be trained before a chair can be used on a school trip. The Department of Education and Professional Training has developed a specific protocol to ensure proper and safe use. According to Carlota Valls, director of the Territorial Services of Education in Alt Pirineu and Aran, "We believe things must be done well, especially in the field of inclusion."
Free, temporary loan for educational purposes
The chairs are provided under a free, temporary agreement that limits their use to educational and inclusive activities, such as excursions and outdoor learning in non-accessible natural areas. The initial loan period to the Territorial Services in Lleida is set for three years and may be extended. Joan Talarn, president of the Provincial Council of Lleida, said the chairs are "tools of inclusion" that ensure all children have opportunities not only in the classroom but also when enjoying nature.
We want to bring nature closer to those who sometimes cannot reach it.
The initiative aligns with broader efforts across Catalonia to make natural parks accessible to everyone, regardless of mobility.
Reported by [email protected], pirineusdigital.cat, segre.com, CdA Valls d'Àneu, parquesnaturales.gva.es, La Valira.
