Lunch of Senses: Experiencing the Reality of Accessibility Barriers

A morning that started with a different kind of nature walk

We began our day at Lielezers beach in Limbaži. Despite the cold, the group was curious and engaged. The new tactile infoboard, accessible paths and the beaver sculpture were small details at first glance, but once explained, they revealed how much thought goes into helping different people navigate a natural environment. While our group consisted of experts who are more familiar with these issues, it reminded us how many people go about their daily lives without ever considering that a beach may not be accessible to everyone or what it actually takes to make it usable for different groups in society.

A closer look at the lunch of senses and the stories that stayed with us

In Valmiera we gathered for the Lunch of Senses, the part of the day everyone was quietly anticipating. The moment people put on blindfolds or tried simple tasks with limited movement, the room changed. It became clear how quickly independence disappears when the environment isn’t designed with different users in mind.

The session was guided by Apeirons, a public organisation that brings together people with disabilities and their friends. Their long-standing experience in supporting inclusion and raising awareness helped create an atmosphere where participants felt safe to step out of their comfort zone and truly notice what everyday barriers feel like.

The sensory lunch itself was an experience people will remember for a long time. Participants were guided to their tables blindfolded and asked to find their seat, identify who was sitting next to them and eat the starter without seeing anything. Very quickly, small tasks that normally require no thought at all became slow and uncertain.

For the main course, everyone put on gloves to mimic the difficulty of using one’s hands or fingers. Cutting food, lifting utensils or moving plates became surprisingly challenging. Dessert added another layer when participants wore headphones that blocked sound, making it difficult to hear the waiter, follow instructions or interact with others at the table.

The menu was read out loud as a long, detailed description, showing how complicated a simple text can become when it is not designed with accessibility in mind. Throughout the meal, people with disabilities shared real experiences from their daily lives, helping everyone see how these simulated tasks reflect challenges that many face every day. For many participants, the lunch turned abstract “accessibility issues” into something tangible and emotionally memorable.

The experience grew even stronger thanks to four speakers who shared powerful personal and professional insights:

Līga Ķikute, public health specialist and board member of the service dog association TEODORS, spoke about daily life for people with visual impairments and how a guide dog becomes both a tool for independence and a companion who changes everything. One moment that stayed with many of us was her reminder that something as simple as describing yourself when giving a presentation can make a huge difference.
Most of us assume everyone can see the speaker. Whether they are tall or short, smiling or serious, how they are dressed. Līga explained how these details help people with visual impairments build a clearer picture of who is talking. Several presenters took her advice immediately and began introducing themselves with short verbal descriptions. It was a small gesture, but it made the room feel more thoughtful and attentive.
Daina Podziņa, Accessible EU national expert and easy-to-read interpreter, explained why easy-to-read language is essential for many people to understand information and how her work as an assistant helps people participate in everyday life with confidence.
Baiba Baikovska, head of AGAPE LV and author of “Elfa - a dog, not a person,” brought warmth and humour into the room with stories about life with her assistance dog Elfa. She has also found stand-up comedy as a way to share her experiences, and at several moments during her talk the whole room laughed together. It was a good reminder that laughter breaks down barriers and helps people connect.
Baiba also spoke honestly about attitudes she often encounters. When she is using a wheelchair, people sometimes assume she is unwell or treat her as if she is somehow apart from the group. She encouraged everyone not to be afraid to approach, ask or simply interact in a normal way. Her message was clear: social attitudes can create barriers just as much as physical ones, and a bit of openness can make a big difference.
Inese Immure, Chair of the Latvian Association of the Deaf, introduced the group to sign language, its cultural depth and what it means to be part of the Deaf community. She drew everyone in immediately, and soon the whole room was learning to sign “I love you”, “Estonia” and “Latvia”. One moment that made everyone smile was when she managed to have a short conversation with one participant using gestures alone. It turned out that some signs really are universal. By the end of the exchange, they had agreed to go for a drink together, without a single spoken word. It was a simple but powerful illustration of how communication can connect people in many different ways.

Each of these stories added a layer of understanding that you simply cannot gain from written materials that explain accessibility in theory. They created a sense of unity in the room and reminded everyone how small gestures - a description, a question, a smile, a simple sign - can make a huge difference in how included someone feels.

A moment for reflection

At the end of the session, participants wrote down what they planned to change in their own work. Some promised to review signage, others to rethink customer service, and several said they wanted to involve people with disabilities much earlier in planning processes. These were not symbolic pledges; they were thoughtful commitments.

Why this matters for our Programme

The Access Routes project is co-funded by the Interreg Estonia-Latvia Programme, and the event showed very clearly why improving accessibility and inclusion matters. Accessibility touches everyone at some point in life: older adults, families with small children, people recovering from injuries, and those living with long-term disabilities. When public spaces and tourism sites are easier to move through, understand and enjoy, the whole region becomes more welcoming and resilient.

This work is not happening in isolation. Our Programme has several other projects that are also improving the accessibility and sustainability of tourism across the border area (Riverways II, MIL-HER Accessible, Green Railway II, Garden Pearls II and Accessible Hiking Trails). Each of them is finding practical ways to make sure people of different ages and abilities can feel included and confident when exploring our regions.

Together, these projects are creating better places to live and visit. They are leaving behind accessible paths, improved nature trails, clearer information, and a wealth of practical experience that can be shared far beyond Estonia and Latvia. As a Programme, we are genuinely proud of this collective effort and the positive change our projects are already bringing to communities on both sides of the border.

We were joined throughout the day by Anna Monika Modzelewska from the European Commission, who recognised the work and commitment shown by all partners, municipalities and experts involved in this topic. She reminded us that this kind of work is closely connected to the values and priorities of the European Union. Improving accessibility strengthens communities, supports regional development and helps people take part in social, cultural and economic life. She also emphasised that the EU will continue to invest in making environments more accessible, because this benefits a wide range of people and helps regions grow in a fair and inclusive way. The solutions developed in Access Routes show what is possible in practice and can inspire similar work in other parts of Europe.

Looking ahead

The work does not end here. Partners are continuing with project Access Routes activities to develop tactile elements across Estonia and Latvia. Organisations like APEIRONS will keep using the sensory lunch format to raise awareness in a direct and memorable way.

For many of us, the Lunch of Senses was more than an event. It was a reminder that accessibility isn’t a niche issue, it’s a shared responsibility. And when we take it seriously, everyone benefits.