The World Report on Disability examines a number of topics, including the necessity for enabling environments, addressed in chapter 6 of the report. Environments, whether physical, social, or attitudinal can present barriers people with disabilities or can help to foster their participation and inclusion in society. In line with the social model of disability, this approach places an emphasis on society’s barriers to individuals with disabilities that prevent their participation in their community, rather than their individual disabilities.

Just as Article 9 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) stresses the importance of ensuring access of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others “to the physical environment, to transportation, to information and communications, including information and communications technologies and systems, and to other facilities and services open or provided to the public, both in urban and in rural areas,”  chapter 6 of the World Report focuses on the barriers individuals face. The report states that an accessible environment, while particularly relevant for individuals with disabilities, also has benefits to others in the general population. Curb cuts, for example, while specifically intended for use by wheelchair users, can also assist individuals pushing baby strollers. Information provided in plain language, intended to ensure that individuals with disabilities are able to understand, can also prove useful for non-native speakers of the language. In addition, stop announcements on public transit may aid travelers with low-vision or blindness, as well as those who are unfamiliar with the route. The benefits seen by individuals without disabilities may help to generate additional adaptations to ensure that environments are fully accessible.

The report describes the barriers to accessing the environment in a number of areas including: environmental barriers that prevent or limit access to buildings, roads, and transport; and barriers to information and communication and the measures needed to improve access. Access to public accommodations – buildings and roads – ensures that individuals are able to participate fully in civic life and are essential to ensuring equal access to education, healthcare, and labor market opportunities. Coupled with that, accessible transportation provides independent access to employment, education, and healthcare facilities, and to social and recreational activities. Without accessible transportation, individuals with disabilities may be excluded from or experience limited services and social contact.

The lack of accessible communication and information also affects the lives of many individuals with disabilities. Individuals with communication-related disabilities, such as those with low-hearing or deafness or speech impairments, are at a significant social disadvantage in both developing and developed countries. A survey of 114 countries carried out by the United Nations in 2005 found that many had policies on accessibility, but limited progress to ensuring inclusion of individuals with disabilities had been made. Findings indicated that of the participating nations, 54 percent reported no accessibility standards for outdoor environments and streets; 43 percent had none for public buildings; and 44 percent had none for schools, health facilities, or other public service buildings. Moreover, 65 percent had not initiated any educational programs, and 58 percent had not allocated any financial resources to accessibility. Although 44 percent of the countries had a government body responsible for monitoring accessibility for individuals with disabilities, the number of countries with ombudsmen, arbitration councils, or committees of independent experts was very low.

Under Article 9 of the CRPD, reporting on the progress toward full accessibility is now an obligation on the States who have ratified the Convention. To date over 100 States have ratified the Convention, and this measure should help to ensure good practice related to accessibility. The World Report outlines a number of good practices across different countries on improving development of accessibility standards and monitoring. For example, in Kampala Uganda, following the development of accessibility standards in association with the government, a National Accessibility Audit Team was created by the Ugandan National Associate on Physical Disability. Similarly, in Norway, after a monitoring exercise found that few local communities had carried out any accessibility planning, the government set up pilot projects around the country to make local communities better able to provide accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Enabling environments for individuals with disabilities requires a commitment at all levels from policy makers to town and city planers. Individuals with disabilities must also be included in advising, monitoring, and evaluating.

The Report provides a number of recommendations on creating enabling environments, these are summarized below.

  • Develop and mandate minimum national standards. Full compliance should be required for new construction of building and roads that serve the public.
  • Ensure that accessibility policies and standards meet the needs of all individuals with disabilities.
  • Monitor and evaluate accessibility laws and standards. For example, use design reviews and inspections and participatory accessibility audits.
  • Increase awareness-raising to challenge ignorance and prejudice surrounding disability. Personnel working in public and private services should be trained to treat customers and clients with disabilities on an equal basis and with respect.
  • Adopt of universal design for buildings and roads that serve the public
  • Introduce accessible transportation as part of the overall legislation on disability rights.
  • Identify strategies to improve the accessibility of public transport, including ensuring that developing countries have a strategic plan with priorities and a series of increasing goals can make the most of limited resources. Policy and standards on access should be flexible to account for differences between rural and urban areas.

 

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