Blind and visually impaired visitors to the Ramat Gan Safari can enjoy a more accessible experience, thanks to the Right Hear application.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
In addition to supplying zoological information about the species at the safari, as well as unique stories about the specific animals housed in its 64 enclosures, the Right Hear system helps the blind and visually impaired navigate the park.
One such visitor, Hezi Eliyahu, said, "This brings me full circle. For years, while I was still a young father, I had to look for friends, acquaintances, or family members who would come with me on visits to the safari. This week, I experienced a correction – I walked along the paths independently, knowing exactly which enclosure I was next to and what direction I needed to go in, without needing directions from anyone.
"All the instructions and information surrounded me through the smartphone's speaker. The accessibility includes information about the animals, so a blind person can definitely describe them to their kids and share with them," he said.
"The fact that now I can walk around the safari alone or with my family, and even lead them, and not forgo a family outing, is a really moving, joyous moment for me," Eliyahu added.
Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama Hacohen said that the safari's new system was the city's way of "making the safari accessible to people who in the past probably avoided visiting for fear they couldn't enjoy it like everyone else."
Now, Hacohen said, "Blind and visually impaired visitors can feel like they're part of the atmosphere … No less important is the message to the hundreds of thousands of children who visit the safari each year, who will be exposed to our municipal sensitivity to accessibility for everyone and people with special needs in particular."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
