The Municipality of Santa Fe, through the Sub-Directorate of Accessibility and Rights for Persons with Disabilities, commenced working on strategies to implement an accessible citizen service as a public policy of the local government based on Principle 2 of The Global Compact on Inclusive and Accessible Cities:

 

 

Ensure access to communication for all citizens in order to promote the participation and advocacy capacity of people with disabilities.

 

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a heightened awareness of the increased risk of violence against hearing-impaired women during times of isolation. The Municipality initially lacked the means to provide accessible communication channels for these women to file complaints or seek advice.

 

To address this, the Attention and Guidance Module in Argentine Sign Language (LSA) was established to offer a direct and efficient line of communication with the local government for these women. However, the nature of the reported issues extended beyond violence, complicating and expanding the scope of intervention required.

 

Advancements in technology facilitated the introduction of alternative communication pathways, enabling broader access to municipal services. This technological shift created new opportunities for diverse groups reliant on alternative forms of communication, including individuals with intellectual disabilities, those with limited resources, the elderly, and children.

 

To launch the project, a public call was issued to fill the Citizen Service position specializing in Argentine Sign Language (LSA). The job profile was jointly developed with the Directorate of Citizen Attention, Communication, and Community Relations. Educational institutions and NGOs working with the deaf community were targeted during this public application phase.

 

The initiative was aligned with the National Ministry of Labor and submitted to the Programa Nacional Promover Línea II – Entrenamiento para el Trabajo. This program aims to assist individuals with disabilities in "building or updating their skillsets, completing formal education, gaining academic or vocational training experiences, and engaging in productive activities either independently or through quality job placements."

From the beginning, the Module's implementation presented a considerable challenge, primarily due to pre-existing attitudinal obstacles. It was crucial to recognize that individuals with disabilities are fully capable of contributing meaningfully to a work environment when given the right accommodations and support.

 

To combat the initial lack of awareness about the Module, women associated with the project produced promotional videos in Sign Language (LSA). These were then disseminated to the deaf community across various social media platforms.

 

For far too long, voices of people with disabilities have been overshadowed by those speaking on their behalf. The City aims to rectify this by ensuring that individuals with disabilities actively participate in shaping the policies and programs that directly impact them.

 

The success of this initiative strongly underscores the importance of ongoing efforts to improve communicational accessibility. Our team is collaborating with museums and tourist attractions to extend the use of the QR code system for delivering exhibition and tour guides. Concurrently, we are partnering with the Professional Association of Hoteliers and Gastronomic establishments to improve the accessibility of menus in bars and restaurants. Utilizing the expertise of an occupational therapist, we are exploring suitable digital formats that would allow visually impaired individuals to interact with the menus. Additionally, videos in Sign Language (LSA) will be created and stored in cloud services to make the menus accessible for the deaf community. To realise these objectives, a structured call and selection procedure is underway, in coordination with organizations that serve individuals who are deaf or blind. Hence, a range of proposals are in development in collaboration with both public and private sectors, with the overarching aim of making accessible communication a central focus of public space interventions.

 

The module advocates for diverse modes of communication, thereby empowering individuals with disabilities and elevating their profile as employees. Furthermore, it equips municipal staff with the necessary resources to engage effectively with their colleagues as well as members of the deaf community. This approach serves as a model that other municipalities could consider adopting for similar practices.