Barriers and Facilitators for Wheelchair Users in Bangladesh: A Participatory Action Research Project

Abstract

Purpose: People who use wheelchairs face a range of physical, social, and economic barriers to regular participation in their communities. These barriers may be more acute in countries such as Bangladesh which are affected by poverty and often lack the physical infrastructure or resources necessary to create inclusive or accessible environments. This research aimed to identify: (a) the barriers and facilitators to accessibility faced by wheelchair users in Bangladesh; (b) how these barriers affect the inclusion of wheelchair users in Bangladeshi society; and (c) what could be done to improve accessibility and inclusion for wheelchair users in Bangladesh.Methods: This participatory action research (PAR) project used Photovoice and semi-structured interviews to identify barriers and facilitators to accessibility for people who use wheelchairs in Bangladesh.Results: Participants mentioned a number of barriers in public spaces, such as roads, missing or inadequate ramps, inaccessible restrooms, and negative attitudes. There were also participants who had made their home environments more accessible with accommodations such as ramps, arrangement of space, and low countertops/work spaces. Women wheelchair users seemed to face greater barriers to access, as compared to men, in a range of community spaces and activities. Participants’ recommendations for improvement targeted government stakeholders and included greater focus on road infrastructure, particularly during flooding in the rainy season, and modifications to the public transportation system.Conclusion: A key goal of the study was to identify barriers and facilitators, and use the information gathered to promote social change on the ground. Future research and action should encourage more people to get involved in removing barriers for people with disabilities, in Bangladesh as well as globally.

Different configurations of the two-step floating catchment area method for measuring the spatial accessibility to hospitals for people living with disability: a cross-sectional study

“…4 )b. A study by Aldersey et al [ 47 ] revealed that wheelchair users seemed to face greater physical barriers to access to health services in cities. The results of the study of Rocha et al [ 43 ] from Fortaleza City in Brazil, revealed that more than 37% of people living with disability, face serious barriers in accessing health care services.…”

Inclusivity in Occupational Participation: Life Stories of Bangladeshi With Spinal Cord Injury

“…Ninety-one percent of persons with traumatic SCI require a wheelchair for mobility and are considered to have a chronic disability (Islam et al, 2011). Research indicates that people with SCIs in Bangladesh rarely leave their homes, have few employment opportunities, are poor, and depend on family members (Aldersey et al, 2018). In addition, they tend to have long-term disability, high morbidity, are socially excluded, abused, and economically disadvantaged.…”

Self-Management Embedded in Daily Activities: A Photoelicitation Focus Group Study among Persons with Spinal Cord Injury and Their Primary Caregivers in Bangladesh

“…Lack of financial resources and knowledge of proper care among persons with SCI, their families, and people in their communities, combined with a lack of affordable healthcare, largely contribute to this sad state of affairs [ 6 ]. Moreover, decreased social acceptance, increased stigma, and ongoing discrimination further impede persons with SCI in Bangladesh from achieving a good quality of life in society, and many lose their volition for social participation and their work lives [ 7 , 8 ].…”