Exploring accessibility issues of a public building for the mobility impaired. Case study: interstate bus terminal (ISBT), Vijayawada, India. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol 2017;13:271-279. [PMID: 28475421 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2017.1312573]

Disabled-by-design: effects of inaccessible urban public spaces on users of mobility assistive devices - a systematic review

PURPOSE

Despite the increase of users of Mobility Assistive Devices (MobAD), there has been a lack of accessibility in urban environments in many parts of the world. We present a systematic review of how the inaccessible design of public spaces affects quality-of-life - including aspects of health and safety, independence, and social participation - of MobAD users.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a literature search in three databases (i.e., Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed) and initially discovered 3980 publications. We analysed 48 peer-reviewed journal articles published in English from 2005 to 2021 and assessed their quality of evidence via the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

RESULTS

Findings indicated a substantial number of inaccessible elements for MobAD users in public spaces. Pathway characteristics, boarding ramps, entrance features, confined spaces, and service surfaces were deemed to be the least accessible elements. These barriers had multifaceted effects on MobAD users' quality of life with aspects of physical health, mobility, and use of public transport being most affected.

CONCLUSIONS

Notwithstanding that the reviewed studies mostly ocused on wheelchair users residing in high-income countries, this review outlines the critical role of the design of the built environment as a factor of disablement for MobAD users. We conclude by highlighting a few recommendations for future research and practice, especially inclusive approaches and adaptive techniques to assist MobAD users with performing tasks in public spaces independently.Implications for RehabilitationUsers of Mobility Assistive Devices experience a lack of accessibility provisions in public open spaces and buildings internationally.Physical barriers in public spaces substantially diminish the health and safety, autonomy, and social participation of users of Mobility Assistive Devices.There is a definite need for the adoption of inclusive strategies and adaptive techniques in placemaking processes so that users of Mobility Assistive Devices can have equitable access to public spaces.

A scoping review of public building accessibility

BACKGROUND

The built environment needs to be designed so that all people can participate in the activities they want and need to do. Yet, accessibility is difficult to put into practice, and accessibility issues tend to be overlooked in the building and planning processes.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this scoping review was to summarize the research front in the area of accessibility to public buildings. Specific aims were to identify knowledge gaps, to identify access activities in relation to environmental features and to link to predominant activities in terms of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

METHODS

A literature search was performed in PubMed, PsycINFO, Inspec, Embase and Cochrane databases. Articles in English based on original empirical studies investigating accessibility of public buildings for adults aged ≥18 years with functional limitations were considered.

RESULTS

Of the 40 articles included, ten involved study participants, while 30 only examined buildings using instruments to assess accessibility. In addition, the psychometric properties were only tested for a few of them. All articles concerned mobility and several visual limitations, while few addressed cognitive or hearing limitations. Ten main access activities were identified, from using parking/drop-off area to exiting building.

CONCLUSIONS

By using the ICF and theoretically relating the accessibility problems to activities, the results revealed that there are large knowledge gaps about accessibility to public buildings for older people and people with functional limitations and that there is a need for more methodological considerations in this area of research.