Accessibility: is the quality of being able to be reached or entered.
I recently started a new job at Open Institute which is a non-profit organisation based in Nairobi, Kenya that collaborates with governments, civil society organisations, citizen groups and private sector companies to find innovative ways to achieve sustainable development. We have a programme on ability; which seeks to record the most basic factors that prevent persons living with disabilities from operating within their environments daily.
During my first week, I was asked to accompany the ability team in a mapping exercise to survey how accessible Nairobi residential areas, malls, hospitals, streets, and buildings both private and public are for people living with disabilities.
The mapping exercise allowed me to see the design biases of buildings and streets. To be quite frank, I previously walked around oblivious to the biases. My idea of inclusive and accessible buildings was; ramps lifts with auditory indicators and accessible toilets. As I went through the survey questions from the mapping exercise I learned so much more about what inclusive and accessible design should entail. For example, did you know that?
- Ramps need to be no more than 63 centimetres at the top.
- Pavements need to be clear of obstacles i.e. pillars, manholes, potholes etc. and 3 metres wide
- Traffic features need auditory and visual indicators
- Streets need regular rest points for example benches/seats at least every 50 –70 metres
- Lifts should be 1 metre wide and should have braille
How can inclusive design be achieved?
Inclusive design is attainable through the use of the universal design concept (UDC) in buildings or streets. According to the Universal Design Living Laboratory, the UDC means; ‘design of living and working spaces and products benefiting the widest possible range of people in the widest range of situations without special or separate design’. The concept is guided by 7 principles which are: ‘equitable use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive use, perceptible information, tolerance for error, low physical effort and size and space for approach and use’
Are Kenyan buildings and Streets accessible and inclusive?
A majority of buildings and streets in Kenya are not accessible or inclusive and most of them are built without the principle of universal design. This is because people living with disabilities are an afterthought when it comes to design, or if buildings and streets are accessible they are designed and built with bare minimum requirements of accessibility. This includes; ramps, lifts with auditory and visual indicators, clear signage of buildings, accessible toilets and parking slots.
The Kenyan constitution protects the rights of accessibility for persons living with disabilities under Article 54 (1) which states that,
“A person with any disability is entitled —
(a) to be treated with dignity and respect and to be addressed and referred to in a manner that is not demeaning;
(b) to access educational institutions and facilities for persons with disabilities that are integrated into society to the extent compatible with the interests of the person;
( c )to reasonable access to all places, public transport and information;
(d) to use Sign language, Braille or other appropriate means of communication; and
(e) to access materials and devices to overcome constraints arising from the person’s disability.”
Therefore in a country which has approximately 4.44 million people living with disabilities, the bare minimum in the design of streets and buildings should not cut it. Designing the city and the country at large should take into account the concept of universal design. This will ensure that all streets and buildings are accessible to all. Guaranteeing that no one is left behind and that Article 54 (1) of the Kenyan constitution is realised.
The next time you walk into a building or walk through the streets, stop and evaluate how accessible it would be for a person living with disability to go about their day.
Click here to see how accessible some parts of Nairobi are for persons living with disabilities.
