RWS takes PWDs on a magical tour around ‘Harry Potter: Visions of Magic’
The exhibition has accessible features for visitors using wheelchairs and mobility aids
INTEGRATED resort operator Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) on Friday (Feb 21) hosted more than 30 persons with disabilities (PWDs) who are beneficiaries of SPD and their caregivers at the Harry Potter: Visions of Magic exhibition.
The interactive experience in Sentosa, based on the popular fantasy franchise Harry Potter, features 10 artistic and immersive environments that are also accessible to PWDs using wheelchairs and mobility aids.
The rooms include Grimmauld Place, Knockturn Alley and the Room of Requirement.
An RWS spokesperson said: “Our partnership with SPD was a natural choice, as we share a common vision of creating meaningful and accessible experiences for everyone.”
Abhimanyau Pal, chief executive of SPD, added: “Partnering corporate organisations like RWS which make accessibility and inclusion an integral part of their business model helps to raise awareness of their business networks and customers, demonstrating that businesses are key enablers of an inclusive society.”
All the rooms in the exhibition were wide and on level ground, facilitating wheelchair access.
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The Ministries of Magic room has a lift that was built for the exhibition and is accessible only to those who need it, such as PWDs and seniors. It is a special kind of lift that moves more slowly than normal.
“Fundamentally, venues, attractions and facilities should be built with universal design and accessibility in mind,” said Pal. “Such planning requires a mindset shift where accessibility is not an afterthought, but an integral part of planning and design from the early onset.”
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Secrets room offers an alternative exit at the side for visitors who use wheelchairs or mobility aids. The regular exit requires visitors to walk over a large step.
To make the exhibition more immersive, visitors use an interactive wand to point to different spots around the room, triggering various displays to pop up, such as lights, voices, magical elements, as well as animals and characters from the Harry Potter world.
The beneficiaries and their caregivers explored the exhibition at their own pace, and were accompanied by SPD staff as well as volunteers from RWS.
“Outings like this create invaluable opportunities for PWDs, their caregivers and the wider community to connect in meaningful ways, fostering greater understanding, acceptance and inclusion,” said Pal.
These shared experiences “serve as powerful reminders of the need to create inclusive spaces that encourage ongoing interactions and conversations about building a more inclusive society”, he added.
The excursion is part of the ongoing RWS Cares programme, which focuses on four key areas: food security, education, climate change and supporting local businesses.
Most recently, RWS collaborated with Chinatown Active Ageing Centre and charity Food from the Heart to set a record for the longest stollen in Singapore. The Christmas bread was later distributed to their beneficiaries.
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