Physical Access – globaldisabilityrightsnow

Focus Countries

Universal Design as Access to Justice

Universal Design Universal Design is the design of products, environments, and communication to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without adaptation or specialized design. Ron Mace, an architect who had polio as a child and used a wheelchair, said Universal Design is “not a new science, a style, or unique in… Continue reading Universal Design as Access to Justice

Acceso a la justicia es tarea urgente

Increasing Access to Justice for People with Disabilities

Access to justice is the equal ability to fully be heard and to participate in all aspects of the justice system in your country without discrimination on the basis of disability. Discrimination includes bad treatment on the basis of prejudice and stereotypes about disability (for example, that people with mental health disabilities are prone to commit… Continue reading Increasing Access to Justice for People with Disabilities

Empowering Disability Advocates in Rural and Remote Communities

What are the barriers to disability inclusion in rural and remote communities? The barriers that persons with disabilities experience in urban areas are magnified in a rural or remote setting. Stereotypes and stigma One key barrier to rights in rural and remote areas is discrimination. In places that are geographically distant from educational and other… Continue reading Empowering Disability Advocates in Rural and Remote Communities

Accessible Transportation

Access to public transportation is one of the biggest issues for people with disabilities in our century. Without accessible transportation, many people with disabilities simply cannot get to school or the workplace, hindering their full participation in society. Accessibility features in public transportation benefit non-disabled people too. A few examples include: A lift or ramp… Continue reading Accessible Transportation

Six Recommended Monitoring Tools

Items 1 – 3 below provide resources for monitoring compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They can be used as an illustrative guide and adapted for use in other countries to monitor national disability laws and policies. Items 4 – 6 are specific to monitoring implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights… Continue reading Six Recommended Monitoring Tools

Reducing Barriers to Inclusive Education

Low Cost Physical Access Solutions for Schools

Introduction Successfully educating children who are disabled with their nondisabled classmates for full participation in society requires accessible schools. Providing an environment that is accessible to all children reflects the belief that all students are valued and welcome. Accessibility should not be viewed as a constraint or simply a set of rules that must be… Continue reading Low Cost Physical Access Solutions for Schools

U.S. Housing Laws

There are four key disability nondiscrimination laws that apply to the subject of accessible housing. Two of these laws do not apply only to housing and are covered separately: Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 applies to housing that is built with federal financial assistance or federal funds The Americans with Disabilities Act of… Continue reading U.S. Housing Laws

U.S. Air Carrier Access Act

The Air Carrier Access Act of 1986 (ACAA) prohibits discrimination in air transportation by domestic and foreign air carriers against qualified individuals with physical or mental impairments. It applies only to air carriers that provide regularly scheduled services for hire to the public. The ACAA establishes standards concerning a wide range of issues including boarding… Continue reading U.S. Air Carrier Access Act