Indispensable need for Sri Lanka:
[Right to access]
* Prevents colossal waste of resources
*Freedom to enter, communicate
* Optimum use by all
* Greater independence
* Promotes everyone’s dignity
* Acquires gainful employment
A formidable and sustainable national economy is an imperative national goal. Its achieving requires an accelerated plan of action to empower people. Three prerequisites here are: Optimising human potential through productive integration into society of everyone, minimising unwanted dependency and establishing a society that values difference and respects the equality of all human beings.
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| Dr Ajith C S Perera |
Its success stems from embedding the social responsibility and moral duty to design key parts of built environments, facilities and technology with ‘enabling everyone’ in mind.
The ‘right’ to access
This year’s theme is human rights defenders who act to end discrimination.
Establishing the inherent right - ‘the right to access without discrimination’, especially at NEW constructions, is mandatory. It prevents colossal waste of resources and facilitates achieving the goals here. This right means the freedom to enter, communicate with and to make the optimum use of physical environmental and societal structures, products, services, facilities, technology, systems and processes, regardless of degree of ability, gender or age.
This will ensure the widest range of people can unlock their varying abilities and enjoy the optimum use of gainful opportunities afforded by development programs and thereby live life to its fullest with dignity and with safety, supporting their communities.
It also benefits wider sectors including pregnant mothers, persons carrying small children or heavy luggage, those convalescing after surgery or illnesses, people with debilitating conditions that are often not visible (like arthritis, joint pains, uncontrolled diabetes, diminishing eye sight) and especially the elderly, who will soon be a fifth of our population.
The right to access through universal design promotes optimum use by all, especially for people with curtailed ability. It further supports greater independence, promotes everyone’s dignity, prevents safety hazards and discrimination for all, creates more opportunities to perform the normal activities of daily life, acquires gainful employment and inclusive education and enables people to reach optimum potential and participate as productive members of society.
Authorities should recognise the importance of this specific right in equalisation of opportunities in all spheres of society. Several other important rights depend heavily on this single right.
For example, without access to work environments and facilities, rights of employees become but theoretical and campaigns like ‘Decent work for dis-Abled persons’ and ‘inclusive education for children with curtailed physical ability’ become ‘toothless tigers’.
National crime
Why should man continue to spend money and time constructing physical barriers at public buildings that are safety hazards and inhumanely hinder or prevent an estimated three to four million others in the same society from taking a full part in social and economic life, thereby forcing them to live on the margins of society?
To do so has the knack on effect of losing gainful opportunities in employment, education and information, shattering self-confidence, increasing poverty and thereby causing substantial economic, social and psychological losses which Sri Lanka can no longer afford.
Such attitudes and actions violate human rights, disregard established national standards in building construction (SLS/ISO/TR 9527:2006) and ignore legislation for designing of building parts (Accessibility Regulations No: 1 of 2006) that received unanimous Parliamentary approval in March 2007.
Also they continue to violate blatantly orders given by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka (Ref: SCFR 221 / 2009) that make compliance with these requirements at all NEW public buildings and facilities, especially toilets, mandatory and specify that failure to implement them will attract punitive repercussions.
ATM machines of several leading banks and NEWLY constructed Supermarkets of a reputed company are the biggest culprits here. (Example: new outlets along Duplication Road, Jawatta Road, etc.). Even ramps have turned a safety hazard for people with curtailed mobility! Accessibility, an inherent right of everyone, is not a right that can be negotiated, bartered or diluted.
It forms the foundation of freedom, justice, dignity and peace. As such, its violation is also an illegal and an inhumane act. Politicians, professionals and decision makers, in the larger interest of Sri Lanka, should see violation as continuing national crime and take effective measures to arrest this trend.
Realistic figures are under-estimated
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus.”
- Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)-
“The father of American literature.”
We all are ‘able-bodied’ temporarily and only to varying degrees. Every one of us is certain to spend some of our time living with curtailed ability to grip and hold, move or see.
Politicians, businessmen and decision makers should recognise that the realistic figures of those with restricted ability are much more than (10 - 12) percent of our population. They are estimated to be more than double this figure once those affected for a short time and due to pregnancy, obesity, carrying small children, etc are also included.
The cost myth
If the ‘right measures are incorporated rightly’ as an integral part of the development of the construction, they will add less than two percent to the total construction cost. It is an indispensable low cost investment with good financial and social returns. Rupees invested wisely here will touch hearts and benefit the lives of several millions of people.
Most businesses must still be losing vast amounts of revenue and customers due to dis-Abling environments causing exclusion of this diverse and growing customer base.
‘Must avoid’ pitfalls
‘Designing for inclusion’ requires a thorough practical understanding of the intricacies involved. There can be NO margin for error. As such, it is highly advisable that the authorities undertaking ‘building work’ should seek expert guidance especially from those with proven competence and wide experience.
Every building and site has unique accessibility problems and solutions. As such professional advice that is given to one location could easily fail if copied at another location - each site must be assessed separately. Not to do that is a costly blunder we often see even by giants in businesses here.
It’s NOW or never!
Cleaner, greener as well as physically enabling environments and facilities for the widest range of people, are imperative to make our country ‘the miracle of Asia’.
‘Accessibility for all’ can no more be afforded low priority. What Mother Lanka needs urgently is to initiate a process to establish the ‘right to access’ at NEW constructions complying with the law of the country, standards and the Supreme Court Order.
It’s not an act of charity. It should be the social responsibility, moral duty and legal obligation of the State - every ministry in particular, the private sector and every citizen.
The writer - a professional using a wheelchair - is a known disability rights defender and an accessibility advisor with proven competence.
Daily News -
