Making Infrastructure Accessible and Principles of Universal Design

Charlotte McClain-NhlapoKaren Peffley

Disability & Development, HDNSP

MENA: Including Persons with Disabilities in Development:Opportunities & AccessibilityJune 17, 2009

Changing international landscape UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with

Disabilities (CRPD)

Convening power Response to Financial crisis as an opportunity

Information available and cost effective

Liabilities for not building accessibly

Why the WB should address accessibility

Since June 2005, USAID enforces a policy directive on accessible construction and reconstruction

IFC performance standards require considering the needs of vulnerable people, including individuals with disabilities

Bi-lateral donors (GTZ, DFID, AusAID) have introduced policies to include disability in their programs

EU Directive for Equal Treatment in Employment and Occupation (2000)

IBRD/IDA Lag Behind USAID and IFC on Promoting Accessibility

In a general sense, accessibility is a feature which allows an environment, object or instrument to be used safely and independently.

For technical use, it is a stringent set of standards that have been mandated nationally or internationally for the construction of the built environment for the use by persons with disabilities.

Accessibility

The objective of accessible infrastructure is part of creating an enabling environment.

An enabling environment is one in which ALL can participate, including people with disabilities.

The components are:• Physical• Social/attitudinal• Economic• Institutional• Technological

Enabling Environment

Barriers include environmental barriers, especially those that exist in the built (human-made) infrastructure.

For example, obvious barriers include stairs that create barriers to wheelchair users.

Less obvious barriers include the lack of tactile or high colour-contrast surfaces which assists people with navigation of streets and buildings.

Physical

Inaccessible latrine

Step at entry prevents use by

wheelchair users

Accessible latrine

Entrance on grade allows access by all.

Addressing barriers in the physical environment may be among the easiest barriers to resolve, and often a precursor to achieving parity for people with disabilities in other areas.

Physical, cont.

“The design of products and environments, programs and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without need for adaptation or specialized design.” (CRPD, Article 2)

Concept, approach, goal Benefits entire population Participatory and Local specific Not an international/national standards

What is Universal Design?

1. Equitable Use2. Flexibility in Use3. Simple and Intuitive Use4. Perceptible Information5. Tolerance for Error6. Low Physical Effort7. Size and Space for Approach and Use

Principles ofUniversal Design

Achievable with small, inexpensive changes that:

• Would not require major changes in procurement

practices

• Would not add significantly to costs

• Work with governments to assess their own

codes/guidelines policy, legal framework and

compliance with regards to UD and accessibility

Mainstreaming UD in Bank operations

The principle of accessibility is based on the principle of non-discrimination and the full participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of life.

The CRPD emphasizes that limited access or lack of accessibility in various ways often results in human rights violations.

Article 9 stipulates States must implement programs of action to make physical, social and technological environments more equitable and accessible.

Articles 21 and 24 further address accessibility in information and education.

The CRPD

Country Signed CRPD Ratified CRPDAlgeria Yes  Egypt Yes YesIsrael Yes  Jordan Yes YesLebanon Yes  Libya Yes  Malta Yes  Morocco Yes YesOman Yes YesQatar Yes YesSaudi Arabia   YesSyrian Arab Republic Yes  Tunisia Yes YesU. A. E. Yes  Yemen Yes Yes

World Bank lending for infrastructure-related programs and projects rose to US$11.7 billion dollars during fiscal year 2008.

Further increases anticipated in public spending by governments on infrastructure in response to the fiscal crisis anticipated.

Consistent with the Sustainable Infrastructure Action Plan, 2007- 2011.

Opportunities

Transport Sector issued guidelines for inclusive transportation

HDNSP and SDV collaborated on a Social Analysis and Disability guidance note

Publication Design for All: Implication for Bank Operations

Forthcoming publication/training on Accessible BRT in LCR

FURL: DisabilityToolkit

Improving Access in Bank Financed Operations

HDN, SDN, LEG and OPCS (with input from the regions) produced an Action Plan to Introduce Universal Design in Bank-Financed Projects

Accessibility is primarily a project design and technical specifications matter, and indirectly a procurement one

By implementing UD, the Bank would be proactively aligning itself with the tenets of the CRPD and other development agencies.

Action Plan on Accessibility in Bank Operations

Steps to achieve enabling environments include:

Consider accessibility early in process Involve disabled persons in the design and review of

projects and programs Address all aspects of environments

• Physical• Social/attitudinal• Economic• Institutional• Technological

Educate policy makers and designers

Use Universal Design as a guiding principle