DANOVA Innovative transportation services for blind and partially-sighted passengers in Danube Region

In Europe there are over 30 millions of blind and partially sighted people who can not travel independently as more than 96% of European transport system, especially in Danube Region, is still not totally accessible to people with visual impairments. Many blind/partially sighted passengers find it extremely difficult, and in some cases even impossible, to use conventional transportation such us airplane, railways, public transportation. They have to rely on the assistance of personnel, which ensure their ability to travel but presents several constrains when compared to sighted people’s experience.
The main objective of the project is to improve the accessibility of airports, ports, trains, bus stations to blind/partially sighed people by developing a set of new services and competences so as to allow them to have a full access to all transportation information and services.
In order to achieve this very challenging goal, the partnership will implement several activities based on a transnational and cooperative approach:
- identification and analysis of existing solutions and practices which could be easily imported in Danube Region. A Capitalization Strategy will be realized to support the decision makers and managers to transfer the indentified solutions in an efficient way. 
- activation/involvement of stakeholders in the design process of a new transnational concept of a totally accessible transportation system to blind and partially sighted passengers in Danube Region.
- testing of identified solutions so as to evaluate their potential of transferability and adaptability in other territories of Danube Region. 
- equipping the personnel on how to use new services and how to adequately assist and communicate with blind passengers. 
The new services for blind and partially sighted passengers and new competences of people working with passengers will contribute to make Danube region more innovative and socially responsible.