Disables’ Accessibility Problems on the Public Facilities within the Context of Surabaya, Indonesia

Abstract

Even though the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been signed by all states and by regional integration organization on 2007, in developing countries, providing barrier free environment is still questionable. Indonesia for example, the ratification of this convention has been signed by Indonesian Government on 2011 and the implementation process is ongoing. Surabaya for instance, for the last few years has improved public facilities (such as pedestrian ways and open space) to be more accessible for citizens. Yet those improvements are still misleading and failed to provide friendly environment especially for disabled people and elderly. The aim of this paper is to investigate the realization of accessible design in some public facilities in Surabaya especially in pedestrian ways and public open space (recreational facilities). Observation in field study is conducted as research methods and description analysis is used. This research is also conducted by disabled researcher who has physical impairment and has experienced everyday living in disabling environment of Surabaya. The result shows that even though accessible design in public facilities has been supported by Indonesian law and local government, its implementations are failed and the process of planning and design has not included the participation of disabled people and well informed. Therefore, disabled people are still struggle to do their activities and needs in public facilities.