People with disabilities, more than anyone else, are close to the painful reality expressed by the man of the Shroud.

For this reason, the Diocesan Commission took a special care in organizing their visits to the Linen, just like it was done during the Expositions of 1978 and 1998.
Three important opportunities are offered this year:

• A welcome centre, accessible and equipped for people with disabilities will be held in Villa Speranza, in San Mauro Torinese.
  This was made possible thanks to fathers Somaschi, who own the house, and to the contribution of Aire (Associazione internazionale Regina Elena - International association queen Elena), who built a wheelchair-accessible elevator in the house. - a transportation service will be available for people with disabilities and for the blind. It will be free and it will be organized every Wednesday afternoon (2 pm to 6 pm), starting on 30 August, thanks to Sisport Fiat, who offered a 7 seats van. People who will ask for it, will be taken from home to the area of the exposition and then, at the end of the visit, they will be taken back home.

• The blind and people with other kind of eye disabilities will be able to explore the features of the Shroud through a life size model located in the first part of the path that leads to the exposition.
  The model shows all the details of the real front image of the linen. It is the result of the collaboration between the Diocesan Commission and Apri (Associazione piemontese retinopatici ed ipovedenti - Piedmontese association for people with eye disabilities) that has been working for years for the social integration of people with eye disabilities.
  Every Friday afternoon volunteers from Apri will accompany and help the blind along the path of the exposition.

• Every Wednesday afternoon, as in 1998, the access to the exposition will be allowed only to people with disabilities. On Wednesday 30 August, on 13 and 27 September and on 11 October it will be possible to take the short route through the door of Palazzo Reale. The usual route will be available otherwise, on a special path, for people with disabilities. To have more information about these services and to book visits to the Shroud you will need to contact:

Segreteria dell'Ostensione, via XX Settembre 87, tel. 011 5215960
e-mail sindone@torino.chiesacattolica.it.

Committee for the Exposition of the Shroud and for the jubilee year 2000

Ufficio Stampa (Press Office) Via XX Settembre 83 - Torino
Tel. 011-521.61.67 Fax 011-460.11.82 E-mail: press.sindone@torino.chiesacattolica.it