Abstract
The built environment has long been recognised as a significant determinant of social inclusion and participation of people who experience disability. Despite existence of anti-discrimination legislation and development of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability, many individuals continue to experience inequitable access to their communities. Using a qualitative approach, this study aimed to explore the lived experiences of people who use Changing Places facilities within Victoria, Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four participants regarding their experiences of using Changing Places facilities. Findings from this study further consolidate existing research that highlight social inequities experienced by people with severe and profound physical disabilities. Findings in this preliminary study can also support the development and expansion of Changing Places facilities, not only as a means of meeting legal obligations within our community, but also as an approach towards improving social inclusion and participation of people with severe and profound physical disabilities.
Highlights
The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights depicts the notion of equal justice amongst all individuals, acknowledging “All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights” as a fundamental human right (United Nations General Assembly, 1948, p. 2)
One mother used the facility with her young son and primarily used a stroller when mobilising within the community
The second mother used Changing Places with her adult son who used a manual wheelchair to mobilise within the community
Summary
The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights depicts the notion of equal justice amongst all individuals, acknowledging “All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights” as a fundamental human right (United Nations General Assembly, 1948, p. 2). Focus groups yielded results that described participation as a dynamic negotiation between personal choice, such as a desire to focus on specific areas, and environmental influences such as availability of resources and supports It was a firmly held belief that the government and social policies need to ensure enforcement and compliance of their rights to equal access and opportunities (Hammel et al, 2008). It was concurred that individuals with a disability viewed their community participation as compromised, attributing this to the unavailability of equal access and opportunities within their environment (Hammel et al, 2008; Raymond et al, 2014) These studies illustrate the social exclusion that is experienced by people with a disability in regard to experiencing equal participation whilst concurrently highlighting the built environment as a barrier towards participation
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