Access
Introduction
Barriers
A lack of awareness and education exists among architects, designers and service providers as to how to include people with a disability in the provision of full accessibility in buildings.
Lack of accessible facilities.
Access sometimes focuses only on wheelchair users. However, visually impaired people and others need to be included, too. Often there is nowhere to socialise. An inability to full participate in activities is often due to inappropriate access to the service. Frequently, there are no subtitles in cinemas. People with hidden disabilities e.g. epilepsy, are not always able to access facilities. The lack of audio facilities for people who are visually impaired needs to be highlighted. Spring-loaded doors in buildings should be replaced with automatic doors for ease of access. It is a well-known fact that the most and best facilities are Dublin- based with a drip feed to the rest of the country.
Swimming
In relation to swimming, it is a fact that public pools are not available throughout the region and private hotel pools are not accessible due to the high cost of membership. Pools that exist and have a hoist system in place for access by disabled persons generally do not have them in operation.
Schools
School gyms are not fully equipped to cater for young disabled people. Disabled people have to adapt to the facilities available. Changing rooms/toilets are not usually designed to include the needs of disabled people.
Lack of information and communication barriers
People do not know how to communicate with those who are deaf or blind, of who have autism or a learning disability. Many exhibitions, or other public spaces, are not inclusive of the communication needs of people with disabilities. There is too much high level English on signs, information flyers, newspapers and government documents.
Funding
A lack of funding is often a barrier for individuals/service providers to adapt their facilities.
Cost
Many people with disabilities face barriers of cost, due to having no self-incomer and depend on carers, parents and others to pay bills. A major problem is that if they are unable to get there, they cannot avail of leisure facilities. Finance is a major barrier as many people with a disability are living below the poverty line., again with parents meeting the cost because of no self-income. Those living in the Border region accessed facilities in Northern Ireland, which is better, but often not available.
Support
A lack of support exists from organisations to gain access to activities such as Arts and Crafts. There is not always the opportunity to participate because of a lack of personal assistances or a lack of staff as sometimes a high level of support is needed. Often there is a need to ask for help as it is not always forthcoming and this reduces independence.
Fear
Fear is often a barrier for some in participating in activities and having to admit they cannot take part
Society’s attitude
Society’s attitude can prevent the participation of people with a disability in everyday activities. People’s attitude to people in restaurants etc, due to the lack of awareness and fear of doing wrong things is a problem. If people have balance difficulties, they are generally perceived as being intoxicated. The current travel pass is of little use due to the non-existence of public transport in many rural areas.
Parking Bays
Parking facilities for people with a disability are still inadequate. There is a lack of designated parking spaces in both public and private areas.
Transport
Transport to schools, cinemas, leisure activities etc, is inadequate to include full participation. There is a need for access to taxis for the deaf, including mobile text facilities. There are no loops in taxis. CIE has a poor awareness of the needs of people with disabilities; e.g., there are no signs on trains or buses to inform deaf people which stop they are at.
Wheelchairs
The standard manually propelled wheelchair is 660mm wide and 1065mm long. This standard is likely to change in time, to around 700mm-X-1200mm. However, many people use chairs which are either larger or smaller than the standard dimensions, and it is unwise to rely on the personal experience of an individual user when considering whether building access or facilities are adequate in any particular situation.
A wide range of powered wheelchairs is available for indoor, outdoor or combined use. Most require a minimum 1700mm diameter turning circle. Electric scooters, generally for outdoor use but sometimes used indoors, are bigger. Some people’s feet extend beyond the wheelchair footpaths. My own feet extend over 200mm.
"As people with disabilities, we must also accept the responsibilities that are associated with the ups, as well as the downs, of life." "We do not want to be singled out for special attention, just to be treated as equals and to enjoy the benefits other citizens expect as a right".