Kyiv Children’s Rehabilitation Center unveils Braille edition of 30 Pearls of Kyiv book with relief images

The Kyiv City Rehabilitation Center for Children with Disabilities has launched the "30 Pearls of Kyiv" guide, now available in Braille and featuring relief images. This project was a collaboration between the Department of Tourism and Promotions of the Kyiv City State Administration and a creative team that included individuals with visual impairments.

The Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration for the Exercise of Self-Government Powers and Responsible for Accessibility in Kyiv, Maryna Khonda, reported that on Facebook.

The publication promises to be both interesting and useful for children and adults alike. Through this project, individuals with visual impairments will have the opportunity not only to learn about the historical monuments and tourist spots in the capital but also to physically experience them through touch. According to the Kyiv City Center for Medical and Social Expertise, in 2024 alone, 555 adults acquired disabilities related to eye diseases, with more than 180 experiencing complete vision loss.

^{Photo: Maryna Khonda}

"Additionally, over 30 children in Kyiv have lost their sight in both eyes, highlighting the critical importance of creating accessible products. The guidebook was developed considering the needs of individuals with low vision and complete vision loss. It will be integrated into educational and rehabilitation programs aimed at comprehensive rehabilitation," Maryna Khonda said.

She stated that the guidebook features information on the most notable tourist attractions in the capital—30 pearls of Kyiv—including historical monuments, churches, parks, theaters, bridges, and other city landmarks. Highlights include the 11th-century St. Sophia Cathedral, the Wave of Azov Bridge, the country's leading sports arena, the Motherland Monument, and other popular sites essential to Kyiv's identity today.

^{Photo: Maryna Khonda}

"Promoting tourist locations in times of war is a matter of preserving our cultural heritage and an effective tool for restoring domestic tourism. The guide offers a unique opportunity for people with visual impairments to get acquainted with the most popular places in the capital through tactile experience. This initiative expands access to tourist attractions for a broader range of people and demonstrates that Kyiv continues to remain one of the country's main tourist centers.

The publication shows that even in the most difficult times, it is essential and possible to implement new inclusive projects that contribute to the social integration of society and strengthen the city's tourism potential," Maryna Radova, head of the Department of Tourism and Promotions, said.

According to her, the publication was the first in Ukraine to be created using universal design principles, which combine flat-printed enlarged font, relief color images, and Braille.

Some books will be donated to the capital's rehabilitation centers and libraries.