€˜I DON’T WANT TO BE CARRIED LIKE LUGGAGE’: DISABILITY AND PHYSICAL ACCESS TO TANZANIAN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

Abstract

This article reports on an empirical study which investigated access for people in wheelchairs and/or with visual impairments to Tanzanian academic libraries. A pragmatism paradigm and Oliver’s (1990) social model of disability were employed as well as the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Using quantitative and qualitative methods, questionnaires, interview schedules and an observation checklist were used to collect data. The study sample from the libraries of five Tanzanian higher education institutions (HEIs) totalled 196 respondents. The respondents were library directors, other professional library and disability unit staff, Ministry of Education’s Special Needs Unit staff, and people in wheelchairs and/or with visual impairments. The study found that there were no functioning lifts and/or ramps in the academic libraries studied which could have enabled these users to reach the upper floors where the information resources or services were located. For academic libraries to provide services which are inclusive, as well as certain special services for users with disabilities, various guidelines need to be implemented. Examples include library buildings having working lifts and/or ramps, and signage and location devices appropriate for people with visual impairments. The study findings could be used to improve physical access to these academic libraries.

Level of independence, anxiety and relevant challenges among persons with disabilities towards their use of facilities in public buildings

“…Conversely, a current key survey in a developed country showed that most PWDs who participated did not have difficulties accessing public buildings (UK Government Disability Unit, 2021). Evidence from other nations about PWDs, regardless of their functional ability, having to be manually assisted or moved due to deficient facilities in public buildings (Banda-Chalwe et al, 2013;Majinge and Stilwell, 2015;Peterson, 2021) offers an explanation for our finding, as such a situation decreases their independence. In addition, indigenous data reveal that many Nigerian PWDs are unable to use public buildings' facilities by themselves (Jirgba et al, 2020;Sholanke et al, 2019;Soyingbe et al, 2017), which further corroborates our finding of a low level of independence.…”

“…Finally, our study revealed that lack of amenities was the primary challenge encountered by PWDs. This denotes the absence of barrier-free facilities in public buildings, which has been highlighted by several authors in different countries (Abdul Kadir and Jamaludin, 2012; Banda-Chalwe et al , 2013; Gladstone, 2015; Majinge and Stilwell, 2015). Multiple Nigerian authors also agree that there is a great dearth of such facilities in local public buildings (Ahmed et al , 2014; Ibem et al , 2017; Sholanke et al , 2019), especially elevators (Bumma et al , 2020), signage (Soyingbe et al , 2017) and modified toilets (Babalola et al , 2020).…”

“…These evidence primarily depict absent or reduced independent access to facilities by PWDs in such buildings, which falls short of the societal responsibility to ensure access for all (Carlsson et al , 2022). Ultimately, PWDs are disempowered towards choosing and moving freely in the built environment (Banda-Chalwe et al , 2013; Burns et al , 2023; Lid and Solvang, 2016; Poldma et al , 2014) and this can elicit anxiety among other negative emotions (Majinge and Stilwell, 2015; Peterson, 2021) as they face significant challenges towards using facilities in these public buildings (Peterson, 2021; Soltani et al , 2012).…”