Restricted mobility and unheard voices: perceptions of accessibility and inclusion expressed on Romanian disability-specific blogs and forums

Abstract

Purpose Concerning psychosocial aproaches to disability, Romania is characterized by significant discrepancies between the Disability Rights legislation and reality, while the input of people with disabilities regarding the matter is largely overlooked. This study aims to explore perceptions regarding Romania's built and sociocultural environment, as they are expressed by bloggers with disabilities and users of disability-specific forums. Materials and methods Data were collected from four personal blogs and three discussion forums on the topic of physical disabilities. Thematic analysis was performed. Results Four major themes emerged from the analysis: the disabling built environment; the isolating sociocultural environment; blaming others and the past; self-empowerment and the movement towards independent living. Conclusions The resistance of disabled people to negative perceptions of disability and their calls to action in this regard may foster positive changes in social attitudes towards disability. Implications for Rehabilitation Romanians with physical disabilities perceive that the adaptation and implementation of inclusion and accessibility regulations are superficial. They promote a proactive defence of their rights, independence, and dignity, to resist against discrimination and stigma resulting from the medicalization of disability. Education regarding disability, its evaluation, and the development of inclusion policies should stop focusing on “incapacity” as an individual attribute and focus more on the disabling roles of environmental factors. Responsible authorities should understand and enforce the implementation of inclusion and accessibility regulations accordingly.