Ensuring Accessibility of the Physical Environment at the University Campus - Assignment Example

0 Lecturer: Proposed Change on Kansas campus Introduction The persons with disabilities are the most prevalent minority group in the United States, accounting for more than fifty-four million people (Trusty, Looby and Sandhu 173). Throughout the world, almost ten percent of the people have a form of disability that has an effect on their daily lives. A big percentage of the people with disabilities is the developing countries, lives in poverty and has poor access to education and other resources that may assist the turn their situation around. It is a group that has been increasing in numbers as a consequence of the growing of lifespans as disability in some cases is caused by aging. Regardless of the high number of individuals with disabilities, this population continues to be discriminated and marginalized. However, this is slowly changing with the assistance of modern disability rights movements with the main struggle of the people with disabilities being more access. Accessibility issues are in different forms and can be seen in instances such as not having sign language interpreters at conferences, lack of wheelchair accessible transport or lack of ramps to assist people in entering stadiums and other public areas. Some of the accommodations in regard to accessibility are simple while others may be complicated in nature, but all of them are vital in increasing diversity in the society. Problem description An accessible environment is one that provides freedom of movement and use in absolute safety of a space or product that can be used by everyone without any obstacles, with dignity and high degrees of independence, notwithstanding age or impairments (Liu 3). The origin of the term accessible is “access” that is defined as the capability to move in to a place and this suggests a liberty of movement. In any given environment, accessibility refers to three main areas that include the environment, transportation, and information and means of communication. It is not always possible to develop a comprehensive chain of movement in a short time as the contribution that comes from the stakeholders as well as their combined vigilance can only be created progressively. However, it is vital and urgent to begin working on the issue and evaluate the entire chain when coming up with the design of new buildings or making the structure that are already in existence accessible. Even though most of the buildings at the Kansas State University are designated as being accessible, there are some exceptions around the campus that are not completely accessible. For the students who use wheelchairs, adjustments in transportation and physical infrastructure is still necessary as some of the bus lifts do not work reliably. Most of the students who have disabilities experience a variety of difficulties as they move around the campus and these obstacles make them feel invisible or develop a feeling of being special. These feelings are further compounded by the fact that ramps are placed are placed behind the buildings and not in the main entrances and this sends a negative message to the people who have disabilities. Even though most of the buildings have the ramps right next to the stairs, those that have ramps at the back imply that the people with disabilities do not have the same rights as the abled people. It is with this in mind that the level of accessibility at the Kansas State University should be improved to make the people with disabilities develop a feeling of being part of the society and also have a chance to go about their daily activities unhindered. Solution description Ensuring accessibility of the physical environment at the university campus is not just a question of constructing access ramps at it also involves facilitating the movement that is within a vision of the entire chain of movement. This implies that a person with disability, regardless of his or her impairment, should be able to move freely inside the campus structures to the residential units as well as facilities and buildings that are open to the public and different modes of public and private transportation. If any link is missing, the benefits associated with all the others are cancelled and this makes access impossible and excluding the person. Making sure that their continuity of the movement requires a total involvement of the majority of the stakeholders in abiding by the parking regulations, respecting priorities on roads and pavements and so on. Adequate accessibility is based on for guiding principles: reach, enter, circulate and use. “Reach” involves a person having the ability to get to the service they wish to use such as transport and road systems while “enter” is concerned with the ease a person with a disability will has when it comes to entering a building. “Circulate” entails the person being able to move around in the building without experiencing any obstacles while “use” is about the ability to utilize the services that are provided in the building. The students who have difficulties in mobility and those who require walking aids or wheelchairs at the Kansas State University experience problems when moving around especially when the ground is uneven or slippery and when going through obstacles such as steps and slopes. They also have a hard time going through narrow passages, grasping and using objects and also covering relatively long distances without getting some rest. To assist them, the obstacles that exist in the environment need to be removed and the setup be made more accessible. The pavements, entrances and exits as well as mobility within the buildings in the campus should be improved with particular consideration to the disabled through building ramps that are not too steep and creating more spaces in the buildings to allow for easier mobility. The surfaces outside the buildings should also be made even and the university should also make sure that the facilities are adapted to the needs of the people with disabilities. Justification The people who have disabilities face a myriad of challenges in their daily lives especially in their physical environment regardless of where they live or their economic situation. These challenges include physical hurdles which prevent them from taking part in social, cultural and professional activities on an equal basis with the rest of the citizens. This also hinders them from exercising their freedoms and rights. An environment that is free from any barriers is a critical factor in regard to social inclusion of the people who have disabilities. Accessibility greatly enhances their participation along with mobility and is a requirement if a society is to become truly inclusive. Improved accessibility has a positive effect and benefits more than just the people who are handicapped including the elderly, people in temporary states of decreased mobility as well as children. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that was established in 2006 and started being enforced in 2008 incorporated accessibility among its eight general principles that informed the basis of the Convention whose other principles included respect for inherent dignity and non-discrimination. This demonstrates that accessibility is an important issue and must be dealt with in a comprehensive manner. If this is done, the people with disabilities will have a chance to completely enjoy the rights that are mentioned in the convention. The people who will benefit the most from improvements in accessibility at the Kansas State University are those with physical impairments. It is important to note that apart from this target population, increased accessibility poses an advantage to a much broader population including the ones with hindered mobility such as the elderly, expectant women, and people who are short.it is also important to remember that an accessible environment is accessible is beneficial to the entire society as it becomes more comfortable and easier to use. Since an environment that is accessible is beneficial to everyone, equity in regard to access is a necessary component of educational and social participation as far as the Kansas State University is concerned. The students who have disabilities require and demand sustained mobility all through the built environment in the campus set up whose current approach to access consideration is not adequate to allow the disabled students move around without any form of barrier. Conclusion The number of people with disabilities who are being acknowledged, appreciated and valued continues to increase considerably. The people with disabilities should be served by the society as they are a valuable pool of potential contributors to various sectors. Accessibility continues to be a vital component in regard to the inclusion of people with disabilities. An environment that is free from access barriers is a great step in the direction of fulfilling the rights of the people living with disabilities in terms of taking part in the different areas of community life. Accessibility ensures that the disabled people can be able to participate and have similar options as the more abled members of the society. Apart from just access to building as is the cases at the Kansas State University, it also entails access to transport, elections, technology, proper communication and media sources as well as other structures that eliminate any physical barriers that prevent equal access. Works cited Liu, Wei. Impact Of Living Or Working Environments On Persons With Disabilities. [Bangkok]: Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, 2007. Print. Trusty, Jerry, Eugenie Joan Looby, and Daya Singh Sandhu. Multicultural Counseling. Huntington, N.Y.: Nova Science Publishers, 2002. Print. Read More