Abstract
BackgroundThe study investigated the perspective of people with mobility limitations (PWML) in Zambia, firstly of their accessibility to public buildings and spaces, and secondly of how their capacity to participate in a preferred lifestyle has been affected.ObjectivesFirstly to provide insight into the participation experiences of PWML in the social, cultural, economic, political and civic life areas and the relationship of these with disability in Zambia. Secondly to establish how the Zambian disability context shape the experiences of participation by PWML.MethodA qualitative design was used to gather data from 75 PWML in five of the nine provinces of Zambia. Focus group discussions and personal interviews were used to examine the accessibility of the built environment and how this impacted on the whole family’s participation experiences. The nominal group technique was utilised to rank inaccessible buildings and facilities which posed barriers to opportunities in life areas and how this interfered with the whole family’s lifestyle.ResultsInaccessibility of education institutions, workplaces and spaces have contributed to reduced participation with negative implications for personal, family, social and economic aspects of the lives of participants. Government buildings, service buildings, and transportation were universally identified as most important but least accessible.ConclusionZambians with mobility limitations have been disadvantaged in accessing services and facilities provided to the public, depriving them and their dependants of full and equitable life participation because of reduced economic capacity. This study will assist in informing government of the need to improve environmental access to enable equal rights for all citizens.
Highlights
Accessibility of the built environment is regarded as being pivotal to ensuring equity of participation for people with disabilities and has evolved internationally as a topic for concern over recent decades
The deductive concept was useful in understanding inaccessibility experiences, organising the data and drawing conclusions on what these experiences mean to people with mobility limitations (PWML) in their lives
The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspective of PWML regarding accessibility of public buildings and spaces and to determine how their capacity to participate in a preferred lifestyle had been affected
Summary
Accessibility of the built environment is regarded as being pivotal to ensuring equity of participation for people with disabilities and has evolved internationally as a topic for concern over recent decades. An inaccessible built environment gives an individual with mobility limitation fewer opportunities to participate in education, training and employment, and, limits their experience of positive life situations (Imrie & Hall 2001d; Resnik & Plow 2009; Wee & Paterson 2009). Of particular importance in this article is the relationship between the individual’s limited participation in consequent education, training and employment opportunities and economic status due to inaccessible built environments and the long-term effects on the family. There is indisputable evidence in many parts of the world (Barnes 1991a; Barnes 2002; Evcil 2009; Fange, Iwarsson & Persson 2002; Imrie & Hall 2001d), that an inaccessible built environment limits the chances for opportunities for people with mobility limitations (PWML) (Imrie & Kumar 2010), making the family less likely to attain a desired economic status. The study investigated the perspective of people with mobility limitations (PWML) in Zambia, firstly of their accessibility to public buildings and spaces, and secondly of how their capacity to participate in a preferred lifestyle has been affected
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