On 15-16 May, the association “Dementia Lithuania” participated in the first National Accessibility and Assistive Technology Exhibition ACCESSUS — an important event bringing together organisations, professionals, innovators, policymakers, and communities working towards a more accessible and inclusive society.
The exhibition highlighted how accessibility solutions are essential across all areas of life, including public spaces, healthcare, mobility, employment, education, culture, and community participation. ACCESSUS was initiated by Algirdas Mameniškis and the company Eurogama, in collaboration with partner organisations, including the Agency for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and many other organisations committed to strengthening accessibility and inclusion in Lithuania.
The event created a valuable platform to reaffirm dementia as one of the leading causes of disability among older people and to ensure that dementia is included within the national accessibility conversation. “Too often, accessibility discussions focus primarily on physical disability, while the experiences of people living with dementia and other cognitive changes remain overlooked”, - said the president of “Dementia Lithuania”, Ieva Petkutė. Here insights were echoed by Rita Matulienė, who is caring for her mother: “Dementia significantly affects a person’s ability to navigate environments, access services, communicate, and participate fully in everyday and community life”.
Including dementia in events such as ACCESSUS is therefore especially important. People living with dementia and their families need accessible information, supportive and dementia-inclusive environments, understanding communities, and services adapted to their changing needs. Accessibility must also include cognitive, emotional, and social accessibility.
During the exhibition, the association “Demencija Lietuvoje” presented practical resources developed to support people living with dementia and their caregivers, including “Get to Know Me,” “Steps After Diagnosis,” and “Caring for a Relative with Dementia: A Practical Guide.” The event also provided an important opportunity to introduce the association’s training programmes for professionals and the wider public, raise awareness about dementia, and highlight the support services available for people living with dementia and their families.
