Services, Systems and Policies Shaping the Built Environment for People with Mobility Impairments

Sigrún Kristín Jónasdóttir,Jan Polgar,Snæfríður Þóra Egilson

doi:10.16993/sjdr.730

Sigrún Kristín Jónasdóttir, Jan Polgar + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.16993/sjdr.730

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Abstract

Background: For people with mobility impairments, access to the built environment is essential to their community mobility. Services, systems and policies shape accessibility and affect the opportunities people have to participate in society. Aim: To gain an understanding of the accessibility policy of the built environment in Iceland through an exploration of policy documents. Method: Public policy documents regarding accessibility from official websites of local and national authorities in Iceland were collected and reviewed. Findings: This review summarizes policies and identifies critical concerns that need to be addressed to improve access to the built environment in Iceland: (1) inconclusive or incomplete information, (2) limited clarity in legislation and guidelines, (3) limited users’ involvement in policymaking, (4) insufficient monitoring of services and (5) limited fit with usability values. All those aspects are critical to ensure and protect disabled people’s rights to move around and participate in society.

Highlights

For people with mobility impairments, access to the built environment is essential to their community mobility
Limited fit with usability values The findings show that the main emphasis has been on accessibility standards but not on the built environment’s usability, even though the latter is essential for universal design
Insufficient monitoring of services The findings demonstrate a lack of a comprehensive monitoring system as required by the CRPD (United Nations 2006)

Summary

Introduction

For people with mobility impairments, access to the built environment is essential to their community mobility. Findings: This review summarizes policies and identifies critical concerns that need to be addressed to improve access to the built environment in Iceland: (1) inconclusive or incomplete information, (2) limited clarity in legislation and guidelines, (3) limited users’ involvement in policymaking, (4) insufficient monitoring of services and (5) limited fit with usability values. All those aspects are critical to ensure and protect disabled people’s rights to move around and participate in society

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