BARRIER FREE ENVIRONMENT FOR INCLUSION OF THE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Dear All

ABSTRACT

Barriers limit the access for services, facilities & needs with poor participation for poor living at all places and thus leads for the exclusion of persons with special needs. This results for the poor development of the individuals and thus the community to the nation. Barriers generally grouped in to three categories as Attitudinal, Technological and Physical Barriers. Though the barriers acts as hurdles for all, the persons with disabilities (PWDs) will have greater impact as they need some support from others. To have better access and inclusion with participation, like every one PWDs needs barrier free environment. The barrier free environment (BFE) covers both internal and external with reference to the targeted areas covering Housing, Transportation, Education, Employment, Recreation and Municipal Areas. Better access for the facilities / services certainly helps the persons with disabilities to participate in all at all levels. This further leads for them to get their entitlements like any of their normal counterparts as a right to lead better living. The acts of Disability provides legal status for the creation barrier free environment for better access and thus for full participation at all levels.

The given environment can be made barrier free in two ways. The first stage is to create in the planning and designing itself for the new constructions and the second involves in making the alterations / modifications in the existing environment. The second phase is possible after making the access audit of the targeted area or building or structure.

The paper concentrates on the need of the barrier free environment for the persons with disabilities, types of barriers, strategies for overcoming the same, case studies, experiences in education, transformations with NGOs, dissemination at forums etc. The efforts made positive change with the stakeholders and the change resulted for the action. At the end, the barrier free environment improves the access and inclusion with participation of the PWDs at all levels with empowerment in respect of education, employment and living and thus to lead an independent living with better sustainability & quality of life as a RIGHT.

Looking forward..

Remarks: Paper presented at the National Seminar