The Town Hall will introduce new facilities aimed at inclusivity during these celebrations
The La Laguna Town Hall will set up a ‘Punto Naranja’ (Orange Point) during various cultural and leisure events of the Christ Festival 2025. The primary aim of this initiative is to enhance accessibility and enjoyment for individuals with disabilities. Additionally, a reserved area will be available for citizens with reduced mobility during these events.
Maria Cruz, the Councillor for Social Welfare, announced that this facility will debut in Christ Square on Friday, 5th September, starting at 20:00, prior to the concert by José Vélez. It will also be available the following day, at the same time, for the XLVII Sabandeño Festival. The final day for this week will be Sunday, again from 20:00, in the lead-up to the traditional performance by the Tenerife Symphony Orchestra.
In the following week, the ‘Punto Naranja’ will also be available during the Grand Festival for Seniors (Monday 8th, from 16:00), the fourth edition of the Inclusive Fair (Wednesday 10th, from 09:00), the concert in honour of Christ of La Laguna by Los Cantadores (Friday 12th, at 20:00), and the Night of Traditions (Saturday 13th, also at 20:00). All these timings pertain to the opening of the ‘Punto Naranja’, rather than the start of the events.
Maria Cruz highlighted that “recent improvements have been implemented in these portable facilities, including significant additions such as a live audio description service, with specialised staff narrating the event in real time for individuals with visual impairments.” Another resource introduced is a ‘communicative book’ that utilises pictograms from Arasaac as an Augmentative and Alternative Communication System.
Finally, new accessible signage will be launched, providing information in easy-to-read formats and pictograms to aid navigation. All these measures are complementary to existing provisions routinely offered to address the needs of individuals with disabilities at public events. This includes specialists in augmentative and alternative communication, wheelchair loans for those requiring mobility support during the event, noise-cancelling headphones for individuals with auditory hypersensitivity or autism spectrum disorders, sensory backpacks with items for emotional regulation and enhanced event experiences, and a magnetic loop system for sound amplification for individuals with hearing impairments.
