How to make our cities more differently abled friendly

A majority of designers implicitly assume users are like themselves - young and able-bodied. In the real world, users have diverse limitations, abilities and may experience a wide range of different circumstances. A look at the demographics emphasises this point. India has one-third of the world's disabled population, half its blind population, and the second highest elderly population. Further, temporary conditions such as pregnancy, accidental injuries, health related disablements, persons carrying heavy loads and children are handicapped by the environment that we, as a society, create.

If accessible residential facilities, hospitals, healthcare, educational institutions, workplaces and/or entertainment venues cannot be reached, hostile, exclusionary environments are created.

Access is the key to inclusion. For example, a ramp at the entrance and availability of an accessible toilet can make a school or college accessible to the prospective disabled student. Similarly, if the first and last step of a flight is clearly marked, a person with impaired sight will find stairs easier to use. An induction loop in a busy environment will enable communication with people whose hearing is impaired.

#1. Accessible entry and exit points: Universal access take into consideration a safe, continuous, equitable, direct (low fatigue) path which is even, has good colour contrast and is barrier free. Areas of consideration in buildings include the approach, gates, toilets, lighting, exit, emergency evacuation facilities, parking, building entrances, public dealing areas, signage and way finding, lifts, staircases and ramps.

#2. Better public toilets: Accessible toilets are required with adequate clearance, grab bars and fixtures within reach, doors that open out, non-slip flooring, panic buttons and signage. Way finding information including signage, tactile maps and directional information with clarity, contrast and lighting is recommended. Graphic signage is preferred. In a particular language, of a designed font and colour, a person unfamiliar with the language, short sighted or illiterate may not be able to identify a toilet, an emergency exit or directions.

#3. Greater sign posts and information centres: For streets, public spaces and transit infrastructure architects and planners need to locate accessible route information, provide adequate space including clearances, widths, rest spaces, negotiate level differences - steps, ramps, curbs; design way finding with colour contrast, materials, lighting, absence of clutter and barriers; clear road crossings, traffic signaling, safety features; access to ticket counters, toilets, information kiosks and other facilities; emergency egress, and, access to public facilities like washrooms, toilets and drinking water.

#4. Improved public transport: Delhi Metro stations, for example, have designated parking for PwDs; ramps with hand rails; guiding/warning tiles for vision impaired persons; bright color contrast for low vision persons; large lettering and information displays and signage; lifts with lowered control panels with Braille, and raised control buttons and auditory signals; resting areas for senior citizens and PwDs. Inside the coaches, there are designated spaces for wheelchair users, audio announcement with dynamic display and sensory door closing mechanisms.

Yet, PwDs, those with reduced mobility and the elderly cannot access the intermediate pedestrian infrastructure to reach many of these facilities because of uneven pavements, high kerbs and encroachments. For a completely accessible travel chain it is important that a journey is accessible from its origin, along the commute/walk to public transportation, and from it to the final destination.

A multi-pronged approach to improving accessibility that has found some success includes access audits to verify accessibility of existing buildings and infrastructure, sensitisation workshops for architects, engineers, planners and implementing agencies, and, enabling resource persons in government and civic agencies. Most importantly, concepts and guidelines of accessibility need to be included in the curriculum of academic courses. Access appraisals of potential projects during the planning stage have also proved instructive to all stakeholders.

The first step, however, is to inform and educate the stakeholders in the implementation process - architects, engineers, contractors and public agencies, and, government departments that provide and maintain public facilities, and, all users to demand "access for all".

(The writer, Nidhi Madan, is a School of Planning and Architecture alumnus and a landscape architect practicing in New Delhi. She is also the director of Samarthyam, promoting universal access in the built and transport environment.)