The La Laguna City Council’s Department of Social Welfare and Quality of Life unveiled five cutting-edge sensitive backpacks on Thursday, June 6. These backpacks will be integrated into the department’s service offerings for individuals with disabilities or cognitive impairments. Featuring state-of-the-art technology, this service aids in sensory stimulation by allowing sound perception through vibrations and touch.
During the presentation, La Laguna’s mayor, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, emphasised that “these devices are crucial for the integration of individuals with disabilities.” He added, “We have been utilising sensitive backpacks for several years and have found them to be highly beneficial for enhancing accessibility for individuals with hearing disabilities, the deaf, deafblind, or those with autism.”
The mayor highlighted that through such initiatives, La Laguna has transformed into an inclusive and accessible community, becoming a national and international benchmark in this field. This recognition includes the European Accessibility Award 2024, a bronze medal in the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity award, and the Cerni Award from the Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities in 2022 for outstanding local initiatives.
Lagunera’s councillor for the area, María Cruz, stressed that “with these new sensitive backpacks, we ensure inclusive leisure activities open to all members of the community.” She pointed out, “This initiative is crucial for any municipality but particularly significant for a town like La Laguna, known for its vibrant cultural scene as the cultural capital of the Canary Islands.”
Virginia Díaz, the head of Rumbo Ziday company, outlined that the contract with the City Council includes five cutting-edge sensitive backpacks equipped with the latest advancements, receivers, chargers, batteries with up to six hours of autonomy, as well as coordination, trained technical staff, and transportation services for event setup and dismantling.
María Cruz highlighted that “these advancements will enhance the user experience and cater to a broader audience during cultural events in the future.”
The provided equipment offers a comprehensive sensory experience by transmitting sounds through touch. Notably, it benefits not only individuals with hearing disabilities but also those with autism or cognitive impairments.
Rumbo Ziday will collaborate closely with the Social Welfare Area of the La Laguna City Council and other involved departments to ensure seamless execution of cultural events. The City Council is also committed to supplementing this service with sign language interpreters and other demanded auxiliary services.
These five cutting-edge sensitive backpacks will supplement the existing eight in use at the ‘Orange Point,’ a mobile facility regularly offered by the Department of Social Welfare and Quality of Life at events like White Night, Three Kings Day Parade, Family Day, Christ Festival, Inclusive Carnival, among others. This space includes various resources such as anti-noise systems, assistance personnel, and interpreters.
Furthermore, these sensitive backpacks are also utilised in the Calderón Project initiatives by the La Laguna City Council. This innovative programme provides significant therapeutic benefits for individuals with disabilities through encounters and observation of cetaceans in the marine environment.
