Disabled community seek universal design in built environment

Chennai:

Even as Chennai Corporation extends a helping hand to disabled community by involving them in several projects including design of new pavements, physically challenged people want universal design in built environment as well as products, services and programmes in government, public and private sector within a reasonable period of time.

S S Smitha, assistant coordinator of Vidyasagar, which is part of Disability Rights Alliance, told Express that an awareness programme is being conducted through Solidarity Booths in Chennai Corporation to sensitise staff and people on the requirement and Right to Accesibility for all including persons with disabilities.

Talking about various issues faced by the disabled community, Smitha alleged that the new airport toilets for persons with disabilities is not maintained besides the services for wheelchair is not provided outside the airport.

She said that people with disabilities on wheelchair have to wait outside for 30 minutes for the assistant to come out and take them inside the airport.

She said even most of the trains are not disable friendly. The railway coaches are unreserved and free for all. It si very difficult for people with disabilities to board the train. She also highlighted safety issues stating that the coaches are always at the end of the train.

Smitha also stated that not all buses are disabled friendly in the state. “We have suggested some guidelines about having accessibility features in the bus to transport department, she says.

She also said that the designs for the new buses are not accesible to the disabled community.

Interestingly, the member of Disabled Rights Alliance has good words for Chennai Corporation. “We are working closely with Chennai corporation. The corporation is now coming up with pavements that are disabled friendly,” she says.

She says that disabled community could get access to the beach with the Marina cycle project being planned by Chennai corporation. She said that Chennai Corporation is also working on making public toilets accesible for people with disability.