The Wayfinding Centre’s Post

Why do people with disability refrain from travelling by public transport even after years of focus on universal design? Norway has gone to great lengths to create an accessible transport system, but the use by people with disability has not risen significantly. Why? The answers are not what you might expect. The experiences of non-users reveals the actual design of a bus or a train is not enough to ensure accessibility. The barriers to public transport use is that the system itself needs to be universally designed. Plus two other articles on the same subject. See link for my synopses.

"Accessibility in cities is about more than just wheelchairs; it requires a comprehensive approach to urban planning to meet the varied needs of all citizens. This includes providing sensory aids like audio signals, braille signage and visual measures for people who are blind, deaf or hard of hearing. It’s also crucial that information on public services and events is easily available to everyone in formats they can access and understand. My focus has been on access to public spaces, but we also need to turn our attention to private homes. Wheelchair users and people with other mobility impairments can’t access most private houses in Australia. There is a drastic lack of accessible housing for people with disability and the cost of retrofitting access is exorbitant. New South Wales is yet to follow the lead of other states and territories by signing up to the Silver Liveable Housing Design Standards. These standards are part of the revised National Construction Code. They require new housing developments to offer basic accessibility for all people. However, new builds and renovations are often decided upon at the regional level. This means local councils should bear much of the responsibility. A determined effort by our mayors and councillors to insist premises are accessible will be better for everyone. From a selfish perspective, it might mean I could go out to dinner or a festival without worrying if I can get in the door."

We on the Move: Towards Equitable Transport Systems For more than half a million people in the world, accessible and safe design features in public transport infrastructure and system can mean an education, a job and equal opportunities that would otherwise be denied to them. Thus it is mandatory to make public transport system and pedestrian infrastructure accessible and provide ‘first and last mile’ connectivity for persons with disabilities and reduced mobility. https://lnkd.in/gVFrfw_D

Today’s Civitas Forum Session 17 explored the challenge of creating universally accessible urban mobility. 🌍 Participants discussed: - The concept of Mobility as a Right 🚶♀️👍 - Ways to listen to stakeholders and collect data 🗣️📊 - Co-creation processes for inclusive mobility services 🤝🚍 Read more about a city committed to accessibility: https://ow.ly/2rb350TC66l #CF2024 #UrbanMobility #InclusiveMobility

I was recently interviewed for #CBC in the below piece about the current state of accessibility in Ontario. Here are some key takeaways: 1. Funding Urgency: Advocates stress the need for increased funding to help Ontario cities, including Toronto, meet the 2025 accessibility deadline. Challenges Across Areas: Various challenges persist in transportation, public spaces, customer service, information, and employment, demanding clearer targets and more support. 2. Toronto's Struggles: Despite being home to 900,000 people with disabilities, Toronto faces obstacles, especially in TTC stations that won't meet AODA standards by 2025. 3. Municipal Struggles: Smaller cities struggle with limited resources, making it harder to provide accessible services. 4. Government Leadership Call: There's a call for more demonstrable leadership from the province to advance accessibility, clarify enforcement, and outline clearer objectives. 5. Skeptical Voices: Despite government investments, some, like Tracy Odell, David Lepofsky, Rich Donovan and myself, express skepticism about Ontario's accessibility future. #Accessibility #Ontario #AODA #Inclusion #Advocacy

Inclusive mobility for all is at the heart of MobiliseYourCity's mission as we work with a #TeamEurope approach to advance sustainable urban solutions in the Global South. 🚦 ♿ Several European examples demonstrate the transformative impact of inclusive urban planning and mobility solutions. A shining example comes from San Cristóbal de La Laguna in Spain, winner of the EU Access City Award 2024 ( 🔗 https://bit.ly/3znSEBi). The city has set a benchmark for accessibility, making its tram network fully accessible and implementing features like acoustic traffic lights and tactile paving. Inspired by such European models and aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, MobiliseYourCity ensures safe, affordable, and accessible transport for everyone, especially vulnerable groups. In Santo Domingo, for instance, 600,000 USD has been secured to improve transport access for people with disabilities (🔗 https://bit.ly/3Mv1i2j). We will continue learning from the European good practices in mobility to support cities in Asia, Africa and Latin America, building a more inclusive future! #SustainableMobility #EUMobilityWeek #EuropeanMobilityWeek European Commission

♿ Accessibility is a human right. Removing physical and social barriers benefits everyone, no matter their age or abilities. #EUAccessCity Awards reflect these values and celebrate cities that are taking steps to be more inclusive. And the winners for 2024 are: 🥇 🇪🇸 San Cristóbal de La Laguna ♿ for making urban spaces, transportation systems, and social activities accessible. ♿ installing acoustic traffic lights and tactile paving to guide visually impaired people. 🥈🇵🇱 Łódź for implementing comprehensive standards of accessibility to guide public investments. ♿ Accessibility is a human right. Removing physical and social barriers benefits everyone, no matter their age or abilities. #EUAccessCity Awards reflect these values and celebrate cities that are taking steps to be more inclusive. And the winners for 2024 are: 🥇 🇪🇸 San Cristóbal de La Laguna ♿ for making urban spaces, transportation systems, and social activities accessible. ♿ installing acoustic traffic lights and tactile paving to guide visually impaired people. 🥈🇵🇱 Łódź for implementing comprehensive standards of accessibility to guide public investments. 🇫🇷 Saint-Quentin for improving the accessibility of the city’s public transport network. 🇩🇪 Tübingen received a special mention for its city development aligned with the principles of accessibility. 🇮🇪 South Dublin County was also awarded a special mention for making their playground and playground areas accessible and inclusive. These cities are inspiring us for a barrier-free Europe! #UnionOfEquality #EveryoneIncluded

Universal Changing Spaces are gaining more visibility. This article discusses benefits of adult sized adjustable height changing tables in public restrooms.

♿ Enhancing Accessibility with Voluntary Standards: A Step Toward Inclusion ♿ As we strive for greater inclusion in our communities, it’s essential to recognize that accessibility is a fundamental component. In many older buildings 🏢 that are not covered by mandatory accessibility laws, the installation of temporary wheelchair ramps can make a significant difference in ensuring that all individuals, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), have access to these spaces. 🛠️ Why We Need a Voluntary Standard: To bridge the gap in accessibility, I propose the creation of a voluntary standard 📝 that provides clear guidelines on using two types of ramps - foldable and threshold ramps - at the entrance (exit) of older buildings. This standard would outline the most suitable options for different step heights and entrance configurations, providing building owners 🏠, and other establishments with the tools they need to enhance accessibility. 🚪 Making Accessibility a Reality: This standard aims to serve as a practical resource for those looking to make their premises more accessible (readily achievable). By adopting these voluntary measures, we can ensure that accessibility becomes an integral part of our inclusion efforts, creating a more welcoming environment for everyone. 📜 Attached: A draft content of the proposed standard for your reference. Let’s work together to build communities where accessibility is a given, not an afterthought. #Inclusion #Accessibility #WheelchairRamps #VoluntaryStandards #IDD #UniversalDesign #CommunitySupport

Exciting news! 🙌📣 The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing to amend its rules implementing the transportation provisions under Title II, Part B, and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by adopting as regulatory accessibility standards the Accessibility Guidelines for Pedestrian Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way (PROWAG) issued by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (United States Access Board) on August 8, 2023. This proposed rule would adopt the Access Board's PROWAG into the Department's ADA regulations. When adopted, DOT's public right-of-way ADA standards will apply only to new construction and alterations of transit stops in the public right-of-way. For purposes of this rulemaking, transit stops in the public right-of-way are facilities in the public right-of-way used in the provision of designated or specified public transportation, as defined in DOT's existing ADA regulations. The comment period will remain open for the next 32 days. Be sure to review and add your public comments! Learn More Here: https://lnkd.in/eyHewfpW