DISABILITY INCLUSION STRATEGIES
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to analyze and discuss the strategies for 'Disability Inclusion' which include: legislations for disability rights, reasonable accommodations (universal design, accessibility and assistive technologies), and awareness raising for attitudes change. Likewise, in this article five countries were used as case studies on legislations for disability rights enacted to remove barriers and accommodate persons with disabilities into society. Also, secondary data was used for writing this article.
Keywords: Disability, Inclusion, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
1. Introduction
It is estimated that around 15% of the global population (one billion people) live with disabilities. Around 80% of them live in developing countries (WHO and World Bank, 2011). Worldwide, a significant percentage are older persons. More than half of all persons with disabilities in Australia, China, the Republic of Korea and Viet Nam, for instance, are aged 60 or over, and nearly two thirds of those in Japan are aged 65 or over (Haslam, 2015). Around 5% of all children worldwide (95 million children) live with a disability, with about 0.7% (13 million) experiencing severe disability (WHO and World Bank, 2011). Women are more likely to be living with a disability than men, mainly because they tend to live longer (Mitra, Posarac and Vick, 2013).
Persons with disabilities all over the world are facing a number of attitudinal Barriers, institutional (policy & programme) barriers, environmental (physical) barriers, in relation to education, employment, healthcare, transportation, and other services, as well as social and political participation barriers. Although the United Nations and the World Bank said in a report that calls for the elimination of barriers that often force the people with disabilities to “the margins of society.” The World Report on Disability, developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank (2011), with contributions from over 380 experts, urges governments all over the world “to step up efforts to enable access to mainstream services and to invest in specialized programmes to unlock the vast potential of people with disabilities.”
Disability inclusion means understanding the relationship between the way people with disabilities function and how they participate in society and making sure everybody has the same opportunities and rights to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities and desires without any barriers (Kett & Twigg, 2007).
‘Including people with disabilities in everyday activities and encouraging them to have roles similar to their peers who do not have disabilities is regarded as “Disability Inclusion”. This involves more than simply encouraging the PWDs; it requires making sure that adequate policies, functional legislations for disability rights and practices are in effect in a community for Disability Inclusion’.
‘Disability Inclusion implies participation in socially expected life roles, responsibilities and interpersonal relationships such as being a classmate, friend, employer, employee, colleague, business partner, community member, leader, spouse, brother, sister, or parent by, with and for persons with disabilities’.
2. Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
Disability is a physical or mental impairment of a human being that limits his/her normal functioning of life. Disability involves dysfunction of one or more levels of physical function, individual activity or social participation. It could occur at birth or during the course of life. Disability can be categorized into different types, such as hearing disability, visual disability, physical disability, speech disability, mental disability etc. A person may be affected with a single type of disability or multiple disabilities at the same time (BBS, 2015).
A person with a disability is defined as a person who has long-term physical, sensory, intellectual, mental, psychological or neurological impairment, which, as a result of interaction with other physical and behavioral barriers, may hinder performance by such person of one of the major life activities or hinder the exercise by such person of any right or basic freedom independently (Schulze, 2010).
The American Disability Act (ADA) (1990 as amended 2008), defined a person with disability as “An individual with a disability who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits major life activities; has a record of such an impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment. Major life activities means functions such as caring for one's self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning and working”.
Physical or mental impairments include, but are not limited to: visual, speech, and hearing impairments; mental retardation, emotional illness, and specific learning disabilities; cerebral palsy; epilepsy; muscular dystrophy; multiple sclerosis; orthopedic conditions; cancer; heart disease; diabetes; and contagious and noncontagious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV disease (whether symptomatic or asymptomatic) (ADA, 1990 as amended 2008).
According to United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) (2006), “Persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others”.
3. Disability Inclusion Strategies
Inclusion of persons with disabilities into society involves functional legislations enacted to remove barriers such as physical barriers, communication barriers, and attitudinal barriers, as well as institutional barriers that hamper individuals’ ability to have full participation in society, the same as people without disabilities (Mitra, Posarac & Vick, 2013). In addition, 'Disability Inclusion' strategies involves:
Getting fair treatment from others (non-discrimination, stigma, and stereotypes);
Making products, services, information, and the physical environment more usable and accessible by people with disabilities as many as possible (universal design);
Modifying items, procedures, and systems to enable persons with disabilities to use them to the maximum extent possible (reasonable accommodations);
Sensitization to eliminate the negative attitude towards people with disabilities (awareness-raising).
Therefore, 'Disability Inclusion' Strategies can be summarized into 3 broader categories as follows:
1- Legislations for Disability Rights
2- Reasonable Accommodations:
Universal design
Accessessibility
Assistive technologies
3- Awareness Raising for Attitudes Change.
4. Legislations for Disability Rights
On 13 December 2006, the United Nations General Assembly formally adopted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the first human rights treaty advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities. In addition, The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which entered into force in May 2008, was the first international treaty to detail the rights of persons with disabilities and set out a code of implementation globally. The purpose of the Convention is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity (as stated in Article 1). States that become parties to the Convention commit themselves to developing and carrying out policies, laws and administrative measures to secure the rights recognized under the Convention and to abolishing laws, regulations, customs and practices that constitute discrimination and barriers for 'Disability Inclusion'. As of 5 December 2017, the Convention counted 175 States parties (Grill & Schlund, 2014).
The Convention highlights that persons with disabilities have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments that, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. By recognizing disability as a result of the interaction between an inaccessible environment and a person, the Convention marks a major shift away from a charity and medical model to one whereby persons with disabilities are rights-holders and decision makers with largely untapped potential to contribute to society. The Convention moves beyond the question of access to the physical environment to broader issues of equality and the elimination of legal and social barriers to participation, social opportunities, health, education, employment and personal development. Therefore, UNCRPD is regarded as a strategy towards 'Disability Inclusion'.
4.1 Domestication of the UNCRPD
As is the case in countries around the world, legal and policy frameworks often provide insufficient protection or inadequately address the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. In some cases laws may actually perpetuate discrimination against or otherwise harm the interests of persons with disabilities. The CRPD sets out the measures that State parties are to take to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities their inclusion in society. These include, as set out in Article 4, General Obligations, the harmonization of domestic law with the Convention (Grill & Schlund, 2014).
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities sets out the legal obligations of State parties to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. For the Convention to make a difference in the lives of persons with disabilities and their families, care-givers and communities, State parties must implement it. A key requirement in this regard, as set out in Article 4, General Obligations, is for State parties to harmonize domestic law with the Convention. The responsibilities of State parties under Article 4 include:
adopting all appropriate legislation, administrative and other measures for the implementation of the rights PWDs recognized in the Convention;
taking all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices that constitute discrimination against persons with disabilities;
take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability by any person, organization or private enterprise (Grill & Schlund, 2014).
In addition to the general provisions contained under Article 4, the Convention in some cases also provides instructions for legislative measures that State parties are to take in relation to specific rights of PWDs. For example, it requires State parties to take appropriate measures, including legislative measures, to prevent persons with disabilities from being subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Article 15) and to protect persons with disabilities from all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse (Article 16).
Legislation plays an important role in CRPD implementation in all countries, but its role varies depending on the legal context in each country, viz.:
in some countries, new legislation is needed to write the provisions of an international convention into the laws of the land;
in other countries, an approved international treaty is automatically accepted as part of the law, and can, for example, be directly enforceable by courts;
in some cases a mixture of both approaches might be needed – that is, parts of a convention might automatically become law, but some parts might need new legislation to bring the provisions into law (Grill & Schlund, 2014).
Case Study 1: America
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) sets forth globally accepted legal standards on disability rights and clarifies the application of human rights principles to persons with disabilities. It also serves as an authoritative reference point for the development and refinement of relevant disability law and policy and is intended as an instrument that is cross-disability and applicable across economic sectors. Global implementation of the CRPD will benefit not only citizens of countries that have not previously ensured protection of these rights, but also Americans with disabilities and their families traveling to or working within those countries (Mont, 2014).
‘In July 2009, President Obama signed the CRPD. The Administration transmitted it to the Senate for advice and consent to ratification in May 2012. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (SFRC) held a hearing on the Convention in July 2012 and later that month reported the treaty favorably to the full Senate by a vote of 13 in favor and 6 against, subject to certain conditions. In December 2012, the Senate voted against providing advice and consent to ratification of CRPD by a vote of 61 to 38. In the 113th Congress, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held hearings on the CRPD on November 5, 2013 and November 21, 2013. On July 22, 2014, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved a resolution of advice and consent to ratification for the treaty. However, the treaty was not brought to the Senate floor for a vote and reverted to the SFRC at the end of the 113th Congress’.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 as amended, protects the civil rights of people with disabilities, and has helped remove or reduce many barriers for people with disabilities. The legislation required the elimination of discrimination against people with disabilities. The ADA has expanded opportunities for people with disabilities by reducing barriers, changing perceptions, and increasing participation in community life. ADA guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in several areas:
Employment,
Public accommodations such as restaurants, hotels, theaters, doctors’ offices, pharmacies, retail stores, museums, libraries, parks, private schools, and day care centers,
Transportation,
State and local government services,
Telecommunications such as telephones, televisions, and computers.
Case Study 2: Bangladesh
Bangladesh became a signatory and ratifying state party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on 9 May, 2007 and 30 November, 2007 respectively. Bangladesh is required to submit an initial report describing the state of implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities within two years, on or before May 2010 (Article 35, CRPD) but has not done so to date (World Bank, 2004).
Prior to ratification, the only national law dealing with disability issues was the Bangladesh Persons with Disability Welfare Act, 2001. Policies included the National Policy on Disability 1995 and the National Action Plan on Disability 2006. Long term Civil Society movements and campaign by DPOs and Human Rights Activists and finally the status of Bangladesh as a signatory to the UNCRPD enabled a major shift in paradigm from a welfare based approach to a right based approach and resulted in the enactment of the 'Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013' which has given new hope to the situation of persons with disabilities as the provisions of the Act not only established the rights of the people with disabilities to protect their dignity, but also ensured their full participation in social and state activities removing all forms of discrimination and barriers (BLAT, 2015).
In Bangladesh, According to the 'Rights and Protection of Persons with Disabilities Act 2013', PWDs are entitled to following rights and protections:
Rights to survive and develop to full extent;
Equal legal recognition and access to justice in all cases like ordinary people;
Inheritance right;
Freedom of expression and access to information;
Right to live in society with parents, valid or legal guardian, children and family, right to establish a marital relationship, and form a family;
Accessibility right;
Right to participate fully and effectively in social, economic and state activities considering the type of disability;
Right to participate in integrated education considering the availability of opportunity at all levels;
Right to employment at government and non‑government organizations;
Right to continue employment if disability occurs in the course of employment, or to receive appropriate rehabilitation and compensation;
Right to get protection from oppression and right to avail a safe and healthy environment;
The right to have the highest quality of health care on the basis of availability;
Right to get an environment and reasonable accommodation conducive to the necessary comfort in academic institutions and workplaces in all applicable cases;
Right to get support services and rehabilitation with the aim of becoming fully integrated in all spheres of social life by acquiring physical, mental and technical capacities;
Persons with disabilities who are dependent on the parent or family if unfortunately get separated from the parent or family, have the rights to proper accommodation and rehabilitation;
Right to participate in cultural, entertainment, tourism, leisure and sports activities;
Right to adopt Bangla as gesture language by hearing and speech impaired persons in accordance with their willingness;
The right to privacy of personal information;
Right to formation and management of self-help organizations and welfare organizations or associations;
Right to receive national identity card, inclusion in the voter list, voting and participation in the election;
Any other rights as determined by the government in the official gazette.
These rights are enforced by several committees. According to this Act, five types of committees are established based on their responsibilities and process of work from national to town levels. The National Coordinating Committee is a 28-member Committee formed by the Ministry of Social Welfare, different ministry representatives and representatives from Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) and it works for the enforcement of the rights of persons with disabilities at national level. The National Executive Committee consists of 17 members formed by the Ministry of Social Welfare to execute the decisions of the National Coordination Committee. The District Committee is a 17-member Committee formed by the Deputy Commissioner to enforce the rights of persons with disabilities and to execute the decisions of the Government and National Coordination Committee at the District level. The Upzilla Committee is composed of 14 members by the Upzilla Nirbahi Officer to serve at Upzilla level. City Committee is formed with nine members in the city area under the city corporation (RPPDA, 2013).
Case Study 3: Jodan
Jordan ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in March 2008 and submitted an initial report in October 2012. The report found high levels of political support for persons with disabilities. After signing the CRPD, Jordan took a number of steps to address disability inclusion including forming a royal commission in 2006 to draft the national strategy, publishing the 'Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in 2007', and establishing a Higher Council for Persons with Disabilities as an independent national institution responsible for policymaking and planning (World Bank, 2020).
In 2016, the Higher Council for People with Disabilities conducted a legislative review of the 'Disable People Rights Act (31) 2007', and drafted a new law that focuses on the rights of persons with disabilities. The new law was endorsed by the Jordanian Lower House in May 2017. Joint task forces have been established with various ministries in order to prepare the requisite national action plans. The law covers anti-discrimination moving beyond a medical angle of disability. It also introduces the concept of informed consent, which gives citizens with disabilities the right to decide. The new Law also emphasizes the importance of raising public awareness of the rights of people with disabilities. To be protected and benefit from the rights enshrined in the Law, a person must be deemed to be disabled and be Jordanian citizen (World Bank, 2020).
Furthermore, “a shadow report on the implementation of CRPD in Jordan was written in 2017. It found that some laws were inconsistent with the CRPD and lacked effective and necessary measures to empower persons with disabilities. The Shadow report recommended that Jordan ratified the Optional Protocol to the CRPD to promote the support and legal protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. It also recommended a review of all national legislation, policies and strategies. It recommended financial penalties be imposed on violations. It was suggested that the Labor Law in particular needed reviewing as a loophole allows employers to evade recruitment of persons with disability. The shadow report also recommended the drafting of a new national strategy as well as a mechanism for monitoring and addressing discriminatory practices against persons with disabilities” (world Bank, 2020).
In Jodan, “The Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (No. 20), 2017”, Article (4), states the following principles:
The respect for the inherent rights and dignity, individual autonomy and freedom of choice of persons with disabilities.
The participation of persons with disabilities and their organizations in policy making, drawing up plans, programs, and decision-making operations related to them.
Not to discriminate against persons with disabilities on the basis of, or because of, disability.
The acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and difference.
The inclusion of the rights and issues of persons with disabilities into national policies, strategies, plans, and programs as well as the state budget.
Equality between men and women with disabilities in terms of rights and duties.
Equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.
To ensure the rights of children with disabilities, develop their abilities and skills, and enhance their inclusion and participation in the community.
To ensure that reasonable accommodation and accessible formats, accessibility and universal design are provided to persons with disabilities on the grounds that these constitute the perquisite requirements needed for exercising their fundamental freedoms and rights.
The removal of physical and behavioral barriers for persons with disabilities, that include a lack or absence of reasonable accommodation or accessible formats or accessibility as well as individual and institutional behaviors and discriminatory practices on the basis of disability.
Case Study 4: Nigeria
Nigeria ratified the UNCRPD in 2007 and its optional protocol in September 2010. Nigeria was yet to submit a report to the UN on the UNCRPD, due to lengthy national processes. In Nigeria, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development are responsible for disability inclusion. Nigeria is yet to domesticate the convention. The lack of effective legislation and adequate administrative infrastructure is reportedly limiting the impact of the UNCRPD in Nigeria (Lang, etc. al, 2011).
In January 2019, the 'Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act (2018)' was signed into law. It prohibits discriminating against people with a disability. The law lays out penalties for non-compliance that can be levied at individuals or corporations. It also stipulates a five-year transitional period after which public buildings and transport must be accessible. The law will also establish a National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, to oversee access to housing, education, and healthcare for persons with disabilities. The new Act is regarded as a first step towards the fulfillment of Nigeria’s obligations under the CRPD. In addition to the national legislation, four of the 36 states in the country - Plateau, Ekiti, Lagos, and Bauchi - have state level disability laws (Lang, et. al, 2011).
Some of the provisions stated by the 'Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, includes the following:
PART I: Prohibition of Discrimination, and Awareness Programme
A person with disability shall not be discriminated against on the ground of his disability by any person or institution in any manner or circumstance whatsoever.
The federal ministry information shall make provisions for awareness regarding the rights, respect and dignity of persons with disabilities.
PART II: Accessibility of Physical Structure;
Right to public premises
Accessible aids in public buildings
Accessible to roads, side-walk and special facilities.
PART III: Road Transportation;
Accessibility to vehicles
Provision of facilities to persons with disabilities
Reserved spaces.
PART IV: Seaports, Railways and Airport facilities;
Ensure the accessibility of persons with disabilities
Ensure that persons with disabilies are assisted to get on and off board in safety and reasonable comport
Any general information shall be translated into the accessible format appropriate to persons with disabilities present
PART V: Liberty, right to education, health and first consideration in queues, accommodations and emergency;
Right to free education
Free healthcare
Provision of special communication at hospital.
PART VI: Opportunity for employment and participation in politics and public life;
Equal right to work
Opportunity to employment
Opportunity in politics.
PART VII: Establishment of the National Commission for persons with disabilities.
Case Study 5: UK
CRPD is an international human rights treaty adopted in 2006. The UK agreed to follow it in 2009. By following CRPD, the UK agrees to protect and promote the human rights of disabled people, including:
eliminating disability discrimination;
enabling disabled people to live independently in the community;
ensuring an inclusive education system;
ensuring disabled people are protected from all forms of exploitation, violence and abuse.
The UN last examined how well the UK is implementing the treaty and published its recommendations in August 2017. These included:
recognising and enforcing the right of disabled people to live independently, be included in the community, and choose where they live and who they live with;
ensuring that social security policies protect the income of disabled people and their families, allowing for the extra costs that come with disability;
removing barriers to ensure that disabled people can access decent work and equal pay;
taking action to combat any negative or discriminatory stereotypes or prejudice against disabled people in public and the media;
ensuring disabled people have equal rights to justice by providing appropriate legal advice and support;
involving disabled people and disabled people’s organisations in planning and implementing all laws and policies affecting disabled people;
incorporating CRPD into domestic law to ensure that people can take legal action if their rights have been breached.
The Equality Act 2010 in UK prohibits discrimination against people with the protected characteristics that are specified in SECTION 4 of the Act. Disability is one of the specified protected characteristics. Protection from discrimination for disabled people applies to disabled people in a range of circumstances, covering the provision of goods, facilities and services, the exercise of public functions, premises, work, education, and associations. Only those disabled people who are defined as disabled in accordance with SECTION 6 of the Act, and the associated Schedules and regulations made under that section, will be entitled to the protection that the Act provides to disabled people. However, the Act also provides protection for non-disabled people who are subjected to direct discrimination or harassment because of their association with a disabled person or because they are wrongly perceived to be disabled.
5. Reasonable Accommodations
“Accommodations are alterations that have been made to items, procedures, or systems that enable persons with disabilities to use them to the maximum extent possible. An accommodation can also be a modification to an existing environment or process to increase the participation by an individual with an impairment or activity limitation. Braille, large print, or audio books are examples of accommodations for people who are blind or who have visual limitations otherwise. For people who are deaf or who have difficulty hearing, accommodations may take the form of having a sign language interpreter available during meetings or presentations, or exchanging written messages”.
Reasonable accommodation is defined by the UNCRPD as “necessary and appropriate modification and adjustments not imposing a disproportionate or undue burden, where needed in a particular case, to ensure to persons with disabilities the enjoyment or exercise on an equal basis with others of all human rights and fundamental freedoms”. Reasonable accommodation is an important strategy for Disability Inclusion; it can include:
structural modifications to facilities;
use of equipment with universal design features;
communication in appropriate formats;
modification of working times or arrangements; and
alternative models of service delivery (UN, 2008).
‘Reasonable accommodation’ means making necessary and appropriate modifications or adjustments that are reasonable and do not impose undue burden to ensure that a person with disability is able to exercise a certain right on an equal basis with others. Implementing reasonable accommodations is a requirement set out in the CRPD. Examples of reasonable accommodation include:
Providing sign-language interpretation for meetings and workshops;
Making health information and messages available in alternative formats (e.g. texts in Braille, large print, easyto-read, audio, etc.);
Providing screen-reading software for persons with visual impairments in a school or workplace setting;
Taking the needs of persons with disabilities into consideration when designing, building or renovating a shelter, in order to ensure the rooms, kitchen and toilet are accessible (UN, 2020).
‘The requirements for reasonable accommodation can be voluntary or mandatory. In some circumstances, for example where employers bear the cost of providing reasonable accommodations, they may be less likely to hire people with disabilities, although various financial incentives can be offered to counter these obstacles. While accessibility can be realized progressively, reasonable accommodation has potential to be realized more immediately’.
Hence, reasonable accommodations be discussed under the following:
1- Universal Design
2- Accessibility
4- Assistive Technologies
5.1 Universal Design
The intent of universal design is to simplify life for everyone by making products, communications, and the physical environment more usable by as many people as possible at little or no extra cost. Universal design benefits people of all ages and abilities (Mitra & Sambamoorthi, 2014).
‘The design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design. “Universal design” shall not exclude assistive devices for particular groups of persons with disabilities where this is needed’.
Universal design is an approach to design based on a ‘premise that design processes must be inclusive, produce equitable benefits and be appropriate to human functioning, gender, demographic group and social, economic and cultural setting and historical development experience. Its seven principles are: equitable use; flexibility in use; simple and intuitive use; perceptible information; tolerance for error; low physical effort; and size and space for approach and use’. It is practical and affordable, even in developing countries (Mont, 2014).
Building accessibility and the principle of universal design into the international development agenda would ensure that every environment, space, product or service, whether physical or virtual, could be easily approached, reached, entered, exited, interacted with, understood or otherwise used by persons of varying capabilities (Kett & Twigg, 2007).
The seven principles for universal design:
Door handle with keys in the lock.
Equitable use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities. For example:
Power doors with sensors at entrances that are convenient for all users.
Flexibility in use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities. For example:
An automated teller machine (ATM) that has enhancements in the way it looks, feels, or sounds so that people with vision or hearing impairments can use it;
A tapered card opening for ease in inserting or removing a bank card; and
A palm rest to aid those with arm mobility or strength limitations.
Simple and intuitive use: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level. For example:
Including an instruction manual with clear drawings and no text.
Perceptible information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of the current light, visual, or sound conditions or the person’s abilities to read, see, or hear. For example:
Alarm systems that can be both seen and heard; and
Routinely making captioning available in all television or video presentations.
Tolerance for error: The design minimizes hazards and the harmful consequences of accidental or unintended actions. For example:
Ground-fault interrupter (GFI) electrical outlet that reduces risk of shock in bathrooms and kitchens.
Low physical effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably with minimum fatigue. For example:
Easy-to-use handles that make opening doors easier for people of all ages and abilities.
Size and space for approach and use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of person’s body size, posture, or mobility. For example:
Counters and service windows are low enough for everyone to reach, including people who use wheelchairs; and
Curb cuts or sidewalk ramps, essential for people in wheelchairs, but are used by all people, and also convenient for people pushing baby strollers (ILO, 2011).
5.2 Accessessibility
Accessibility describes the degree to which an environment, service, or product allows access by as many people as possible, in particular people with disabilities. Accessibility standard is a level of quality accepted as the norm. The principle of accessibility may be mandated in law or treaty, and then specified in detail according to international or national regulations, standards, or codes, which may be compulsory or voluntary (Woodburn, 2013).
Accessibility implies “Ensuring that persons with disabilities have access, 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” (DESA, 2013).
Accessibility involves removing the physical, communication, attitudinal and institutional barriers that persons with disabilities face in accessing and participating in society. An accessible environment is an environment which allows for the freedom of movement and use in total safety, regardless of age, gender or impairments, of a space or product that can be used by all, with no obstacles, with dignity and with the highest possible levels of independence (DFID, 2014).
‘Accessibility is when the needs of people with disabilities are specifically considered, and products, services, and facilities are built or modified so that they can be used by people of all abilities’.
According to United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), there are measures which shall include the identification and elimination of obstacles and barriers to accessibility in the following:
Buildings, roads, transportation and other indoor and outdoor, facilities, including schools, housing, medical facilities and workplaces;
Information, communications and other services, including electronic services and emergency services (UN, 2008).
“Countries shall also take appropriate measures:
To develop, promulgate and monitor the implementation of minimum standards and guidelines for the accessibility of facilities and services open or provided to the public;
To ensure that private entities that offer facilities and services which are open or provided to the public take into account all aspects of accessibility for persons with disabilities;
To provide training for stakeholders on accessibility issues facing persons with disabilities;
To provide in buildings and other facilities open to the public signage in Braille and in easy to read and understand forms;
To provide forms of live assistance and intermediaries, including guides, readers and professional sign language interpreters, to facilitate accessibility to buildings and other facilities open to the public;
To promote other appropriate forms of assistance and support to persons with disabilities to ensure their access to information;
To promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communications technologies and systems, including the Internet;
To promote the design, development, production and distribution of accessible information and communications technologies and systems at an early stage, so that these technologies and systems become accessible at minimum cost” (UN, 2008).
5.3 Assistive Technologies
Assistive technologies (ATs) are devices or equipment that can be used to help persons with disabilities fully engage in life activities. ATs can help enhance functional independence and make daily living tasks easier through the use of aids that help a person travel, communicate with others, learn, work, and participate in social and recreational activities. An example of an assistive technology can be anything from a low-tech device, such as a magnifying glass, to a high tech device, such as a computer that talks and helps someone communicate. Other examples are wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters, which are mobility aids that can be used by persons with physical disabilities. Smartphones have greatly expanded the availability of assistive technology for people with vision or hearing difficulties, or who have problems with effectively communicating their thoughts because of mental or physical limitations (UN, 2008).
Assistive devices (and assistive technology) are devices and technologies such as wheelchairs, artificial limbs, mobility aids, hearing aids, spectacles and other visual aids, and specialized computer software and hardware that increase mobility, hearing, vision and communication capacities. With the aid of these technologies, people with functional limitations are better able to live independently and participate in society (ESCAP, 2012).
Therefore, assistive technologies play an important role in Disability Inclusion as it encourages independent living for PWDs because with the use of assistive technologies persons with disabilities will be able to do most of daily activities by themselves without too much assistance from other people.
6. Awareness Raising for Attitudes Change
Attitudinal barrier is the greatest obstacle against meaningful ‘Disability Inclusion’ in most societies. “Attitude can be described as a human expression that is made up of three interrelated components: beliefs, feelings, and behavior; thus, Attitude can be positive or negative (Ozoji, 2005)”. Attitude change is as important as any of the pre-requisites for effective 'Disability Inclusion'.
“Awareness raising is one of the initial steps for 'Disability Inclusion'. International and nationwide campaigns and advocacies should be launched or intensify through television, radio, newspapers, pamphlets, summits, conferences, dialogue series, and use of social media, to alert and inform the general public and policy makers about the issues and matters related to Disability Inclusion'”
Given the fact that the public still have a negative attitude towards persons with disabilities; as they are likely to be skeptical about 'Disability Inclusion'. Even, many literate people and policy makers or administrators are yet to be aware and understand of what 'Disability Inclusion' implies, talkless of the illiterates and some of the general public.
Therefore, there is a need for global enlightenment and sensitization, campaign and advocacy about the 'Disability Inclusion'. This should be continuously carried by international organizations, national organizations, local organizations, and groups of advocates.
At government level, as stated in UNCRPD State party shall undertake to adopt immediate, effective and appropriate measures:
To raise awareness throughout society, including at the family level, regarding persons with disabilities, and to foster respect for the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities;
To combat stereotypes, prejudices and harmful practices relating to persons with disabilities, including those based on sex and age, in all areas of life;
To promote awareness of the capabilities and contributions of persons with disabilities (UN, 2008).
Measures to this end include:
(a) Initiating and maintaining effective public awareness campaigns designed:
To nurture receptiveness to the rights of persons with disabilities;
To promote positive perceptions and greater social awareness towards persons with disabilities;
To promote recognition of the skills, merits and abilities of persons with disabilities, and of their contributions to the workplace and the labour market;
(b) Fostering at all levels of the education system, including in all children from an early age, an attitude of respect for the rights of persons with disabilities;
(c) Encouraging all organs of the media to portray persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with the purpose of the UNCRPD;
(d) Promoting awareness-training programmes regarding persons with disabilities and the rights of persons with disabilities (UN, 2008).
7. Conclusion
From the analysis and discussion made on strategies towards Disability Inclusion, it is clear that legislation for disability rights was enacted globally. For instance, United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which has been ratified by many countries. The UNCRPD also has been domesticated by the siginitories and similar disability acts have been enacted by many countries to comply with the provisions of the UNCRPD in order to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities as well as promoting Disability Inclusion future. Similarly, it has been observed that the UNCRPD and many Domestic Disability Acts of the countries clearly stipulate the reasonable accommodations which include accessibility, universal design assistive technologies, as well as awareness raising for Disability Inclusion. This indicates that all the strategies for Disability Inclusion are in existence. But, what remains is functional and effective implementation and practices.
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