Ad of the Day | Grey Peru and Cemento Sol are Turning Sidewalks into Guides for People with Visual Disabilities

Dec. 12, 2023

Circus Grey Peru joined forces with Cemento Sol and the Miraflores District Municipality to revamp the sidewalks in Lima municipality by installing a system of tactile tiles. These tiles enable visually impaired individuals to navigate with complete autonomy. It's an innovative system developed and co-created with associations dedicated to the visually impaired in Peru, expanding on and improving the existing signage system present in major cities worldwide.

In Peru, visual impairment is the most prevalent physical disability. However, the lack of inclusive urban development forces those affected to rely on constant assistance to locate basic services and nearby businesses. Thanks to the development and implementation of this new urban signage system, visually impaired individuals navigating the Miraflores district now have a simple system of signs installed on cement tiles along the sidewalks. This system helps them identify essential services and places like restaurants, banks, convenience stores, or pharmacies by touching the tiles and counting the lines with their canes. This marks a significant change that permanently improves mobility in one of Lima's most important districts, the most visited by tourists, providing greater independence and autonomy to this population and making the Peruvian capital a more inclusive city.

Carlos Canales, the mayor of Miraflores, commented on the project:

"With this initiative, we continue the work started 20 years ago to make Miraflores more inclusive. We aim to remain the most inclusive district in Peru, based on the support and policies of our administration to include people with disabilities and provide solutions. Thanks to Cemento Sol, who approached us some time ago, this project is now a reality."

 

To create a system that both standardizes and expands on universal urban signage for the visually impaired worldwide, the idea was developed in collaboration with representatives from organizations for the visually impaired in Peru. The goal was to co-create signs, prioritize the most frequented businesses, and conduct various tests. The process lasted nearly two years, involving industrial designers and engineers responsible for molding and implementation.

Piero Oliveri, CCO of Circus Grey emphasized:

"This project not only aligns with the Sol brand's purpose but also demonstrates a genuine commitment to inclusion and improving the quality of life for visually impaired individuals. Developing the project took almost two years, with a continuous iteration process. Each stage was crucial to ensure the system's effectiveness, from the initial prototypes to the final tests. The  collaborative, multidisciplinary, co-creation work with the country's leading associations for the visually impaired, industrial designers, and engineers is noteworthy. This is an example of how creativity, innovation, and design can significantly contribute to societal well-being."

 

Simultaneously, to ensure universal access to the autonomy the project aims for, training sessions were conducted in 2023 These sessions taught participants to recognize and use the new signaling system in locations of major organizations for visually impaired individuals in Peru. The training included talks and practical tests to familiarize participants with the new tactile tiles, braille brochures, and instructional audio.

Ruben Goicochea, president of the National Union of the Blind in Peru highlighted:

"I feel proud and happy to have more accessible streets, and hopefully, this project can continue to be implemented elsewhere to enhance inclusion. This allows us to highlight the importance and value of tactile lines. For us, these tiles are not just any lines; they have a significance that allows us to replace sight with touch."

 

The project benefits over 500,000 visually impaired individuals, with over 75,000 square meters already implemented in the streets of Miraflores. The goal is to expand to different districts in Lima and other cities worldwide. The design and patent for implementation are open and free to use, available on the Cemento Sol website www.cementosol.com.pe