T-Mobile supports the publication of a unique Prague guidebook for the disabled

• A unique Prague guidebook for disabled people has been published recently
• Ten tourist routes through Prague that can be managed by disabled people in wheelchairs

Prague 16 December 2008 - Disabled people who wish to explore the beautiful places and sights in the Czech capital may now use a unique guidebook titled Prague without Barriers, whose publication was supported by the T‑Mobile Fund. The book includes ten carefully selected routes that people in standard or electric wheelchairs can manage on their own without assistance.

"Although it is an excellent and useful project, it could not have been funded with any of the state subsidies provided to disabled people. We are really glad that it could be successfully carried out with our support," says Martina Kemrová, Senior Head Corporate Communication and spokeswoman for T-Mobile.

The guidebook was created in cooperation with disabled people, as they know best which terrain is accessible for them and which is not, and which obstacles they can overcome and which are too difficult for them. The guidebook respects the fact that people using wheelchairs have different disabilities and their ability to move around without other people's assistance varies.

The guidebook is unique in that it does not just list handicap-accessible buildings but suggests entire routes. Apart from interesting sights, it also mentions accessible restaurants, public toilets, etc. "Sights and buildings are often labeled as accessible when actually they are not. Healthy people often do not realize what can be an obstacle for a person in a wheelchair," says Petra Bláhová, chairwoman of the Tourism Development civic association, which implemented the project. "When preparing the guidebook, we followed our own experience. Things are actually very different from what is written in other publications." 

The Tourist Development non-profit organization has been helping disabled people for five years, and received the Humanity Award in 2006. It operates the www.praguecityline.cz portal dedicated to handicap-friendly tourism. T-Mobile has supported the project through the VIA Foundation, contributing half of the total costs of the Prague without Barriers project, which amounted to CZK 200,000. The guidebook will be distributed free of charge to all civic associations and other organizations providing help to disabled people. It will also be sent to the municipal authorities of Prague's individual districts and to hospitals, and copies will be provided to the General Health Insurance Company. "We will also send the free guidebook to individuals who request it," adds Petra Bláhová.

The T-Mobile Fund has been operating for three years. Within this year's grant proceedings, 135 projects were selected out of 390 applications, which will receive CZK 8.1 million in total.

For more information, please contact Petra Bláhová, e-mail: praguecityline@gmail.cz, tel.: 602 287 855, www.praguecityline.cz.

T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.

T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.

More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).

Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.