From Basic Rights to Full Access: Elements of Current Accessibility Practice in Developing Countries

Abstract

Improving access to transport systems and mobility of people with disabilities is a necessary element of alleviating poverty in developing countries. A selected overview of the progress made toward achieving improved access is provided. It is based on an ongoing 3-year research program on access needs and approaches in a selection of developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. A generalized framework is suggested for describing the progress made across different countries. Many least developed countries are at the bottom of a continuum of activities in which issues of human rights and access to basic mobility are still paramount. Others, such as countries in Latin America, have made significant progress on access issues in major cities and are faced with challenges of expanding improvements to noncore areas and to less well-regulated modes. The framework is used to suggest some critical priorities for countries at various levels of development.

Impact of Inaccessible Spaces on Community Participation of People with Mobility Limitations in Zambia

“…This situation, if left unchanged, will continue to perpetuate the marginalisation of PWML in Zambia -a sentiment that has been reported elsewhere (Hurst 1995;Lawson 2007;Peat 1997;Venter et al 2003;Wee & Paterson 2009). Going about ones' own life, doing what one chooses to do, where one wants to go and doing what one wants to do within the environment depends on an accessible built environment (Hammel et al 2006;Imrie & Kumar 2010).…”

“…The inability to access appropriate and affordable mobility devices also forces PWML to abandon or delay seeking services such as health care (Smith et al 2004), education, training and employment (Lawson 2007;Hurst 1995). Linked to mobility, the cost and scarcity of appropriate mobility devices, and inaccessible public buildings is the inaccessible transportation services previously reported in Zambia (Eide & Loeb 2006;Smith et al 2004) and other countries (Bennett, Lee Kirby & Macdonald 2009;Imrie & Hall 2001d;Metts 2004;Venter, Rickert & Maunder 2003). Despite the government's acknowledgement of the importance of accessible transportation services, no strategies have been developed to address this need (Ministry of Communications and Transport 2002).…”

Globalising accessibility: drawing on the experiences of developed countries to enable the participation of disabled people in Zambia

“…Understanding disability from a human rights perspective directs governments and society to respond to the needs of disabled people using a social-cultural, economic and political perspective (Venter, Rickert, and Maunder 2003). The positive outcome of the human rights perspective is that disability will be measured not by bodily dysfunction but rather by functional limitations and participation restrictions experienced by disabled people within society (Mont 2007).…”

“…This results in low economic status and increases the likelihood of disabled people wallowing in poverty, which in turn may determine the risk of becoming more disadvantaged (Filmer 2005). The relationship between poverty and disability has been evident in a number of studies conducted around the world, especially in developing countries including Zambia (Mitra, Posarac, and Vick 2011;Trani and Loeb 2010;Metts 2004;Venter, Rickert, and Maunder 2003). Poverty has been described to further increase stigma and discrimination against disabled people leading to inequality and decreased opportunities to access services and facilities (Filmer 2005).…”

“…In describing the interaction between an individual and environmental factors, the ICF regards health as not solely related to the medical state of a person, but as related to bio-psycho-social factors (Wee and Paterson 2009), including the accessibility of the built environment (Hammel et al 2008a). This description of disability provides a platform for viewing disabled people as equal citizens who are entitled to equal participation in life experiences (Metts 2004), which is the irrefutable right for every individual (UN 2010d;Venter, Rickert, and Maunder 2003).…”