The TaiKa festival brought song and dance to the Turku VPK house on December 3rd

In honour of the Disabled's Day Kynnys ry was hosting a festival for the whole family that provided art for everyone. The celebration was organised at the (Turku VPK house).

The TaiKa festival had a wide variety of popular performers, for example the world renown sign language rapper Signmark. Also the punk group Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät, that succesfully toured festival stages last summer, was performing. Along with KAAOS Company, one of the best known Finnish integrated dance groups.

Local talent wasn't forgotten either: The Toivola Tanssii ja Soi- performance had been made in honour of Toivola's 10-year anniversary. Idän Ellit, a group from Turku, was performing Oriental dances.

Sign language students will be running fun workshops for children.

The Capital of Culture Turku celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities together with associations for the disabled. The purpose of this celebration was to draw attention to the rights of the disabled and celebrate culture in its different forms.

Culture's positive impact on well-being and importance of access were the themes of the celebration

During the Capital of Culture year, Turku has focused on the positive impact that culture has on well-being and the importance of having of access to culture. These were also themes of this invitation event being held on the Day of Persons with Disabilities.

- Cities hold an essential role in ensuring equal rights and possibilities. The City of Turku will continue its consistent and active efforts in making the city unobstructed and accessible. I am convinced that these efforts will benefit all Turku residents, said the Chairman of the Turku City Council Seppo Lehtinen.

Riku Virtanen, who is preparing a doctoral thesis on the position of the disabled under the international law, appreciates the fact that concrete steps are finally being taken to implement the rights of the disabled.

- This is the first time that the Day of Persons with Disabilities is being celebrated in such grand fashion in Finland. The time for charity, pity and nursing politics is over. On this day, it is important to remember that the disabled are equal to everyone, says Virtanen.

Active actions for accessibility

Turku was one of the four finalists in the Access City Award competition in 2010 organised by the European Union. Active measures in implementing accessibility in Turku have also been emphasised during the Capital of Culture year.

The Turku 2011 programme projects have been able to borrow accessories from the Turku 2011 Foundation to improve the accessibility of the facilities, such as ramps and induction loops. Accessibility volunteers have been working at Logomo and at various events. In addition, sign language interpretations and written and descriptive interpretations have been arranged for the Capital of Culture year programme.