MOUNTAIN ECHOS CREATES AN INCLUSIVE MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE

The founder of the project, Hannah Tauscher, saw great potential here: ‘I got the idea for Mountain Echos from a short film by blind mountaineer Erik Weihenmayer. The event promotes inclusive tourism in Tyrol – especially mountain sports – and raises awareness of this important issue in society.’ The workshops and supporting programme of the pilot project showed what a mindful and sustainable approach to the environment can look like – an experience that opened up new perspectives for everyone involved.

A PILOT PROJECT WITH SOUL

In bright sunshine, participants experienced nature with all its sounds, scents, and textures in workshops. The program director of the practical project, Elena Grolmusz, completed her first degree at the Mozarteum Salzburg in elementary music and dance education and incorporated her experience into the design of the event. “For me, Mountain Echos means creating creative and inclusive approaches to nature – with music, dance and encounters. I want to consciously question boundaries and open up new spaces for participation.” In consultation with experts from the Austrian Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Tyrolean Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the practical project group, together with their project supervisor Asc. Prof. (FH) Mag. Monika Kohlhofer, created an inclusive program that enabled as many people as possible to enjoy an intense experience in the mountains.

From dance workshops with blindfolds to yoga sessions and voice and theater classes, experts showed guests how to orient themselves using sound and touch. Visually impaired participants hiked to the summit with guides, while sighted visitors were able to test the perception of people with visual impairments for themselves using simulation glasses. “As a person who is not affected, there are many things you don't even think about. For example, how important a quiet room is. When you can't see and have to rely so heavily on your other senses, it can be very exhausting – especially at an event with lots of people,” explains Hannah. A wide-ranging children's program with craft and experiment stations made the topic of inclusion tangible even for the youngest participants.

 STRONG PARTNERSHIPS FOR INCLUSION

Designing this diverse programme posed major challenges for the project team at the outset. In addition to the technical expertise required in terms of accessibility, financial resources were also limited. To make Mountain Echos a reality, the event was backed by a broad network of supporters recruited by sponsorship managers Maren Linnemann and Hannah Tauscher. From the accessible website and financial support to the barrier-free planning of routes from the bus station to the mountain station, the team implemented numerous measures to ensure that all participants could enjoy a safe and intense experience of nature.

Mountain Echos is more than just a one-off event. It is the beginning of a long-term vision to promote inclusive access to nature for all people. In the future, further events are planned, including for other types of disability. The aim is to raise awareness of this event beyond Innsbruck and to have a lasting positive impact on accessible tourism, nature and society's perception of inclusion.

Links: 

• Sports, Culture & Event Management | pt
• Mountain Echos | Website

This article was written by students of the part-time Master's programme in Sports, Culture & Event Management as part of their practical project.