According to a policy
document published by the Office of the Prime Minister (2010), the government
of Trinidad and Tobago is aware that inaccessibility to the built environment
is a hindrance to individuals with disabilities capability to partake in
society. They also realise that it is a continuous process in which the
collaboration between the government agencies, non-governmental organisation, the
private sector and the media. As a result they outlined measures and policies
to facilitate the integration of persons with disabilities. The major emphasis
outlined in the document concerns legislation and administrative machinery
specific to the needs of persons with disabilities. The legislation would be
amended and reviewed to remove discrimination and promote equality and
inclusiveness. In regards to legislation the immediate focus was supposed to be
on housing and building codes. Also to be noted is the urban policy posed in
which “consultation and collaboration with organizations of/catering for
persons with disabilities and individuals with disabilities in decision-making
on issues which are likely to impact on the lives of persons with disabilities.”
(Office of the Prime Minister, 2010, p15)
Though these planning
initiatives and policies have been outlined and supposed to be employed, the
built environment in the city areas and by extension the country are not
sufficient to facilitate the roles and functions of individuals with mobility
and visual impairments, and by extension the larger disabled community. The
codes by Town and Country Planning are either not updated or are not enforced
because most of the built environments within the city areas (buildings, roads,
pavements etc) are not up to standard. Mainly the newer buildings or recently
renovated buildings as well as some private firms integrated some form of
measures to facilitate the role of individuals with disabilities. Therefore,
more effort, research and strict policies must be put in place because everyday
life with a city is not limited to the able bodied individual. All citizens
have their respective roles to play and activities to conduct with urban areas.
Some of the measures
and policies outlined by the government are as follows:
Taken from page 2 are
the Policy objectives:
a. To create a social
and physical environment favouring the integration and full participation in
society of children, youth and adults with disabilities;
b. To encourage
self-reliance and to promote involvement and participation of persons with
disabilities in the country's socio-economic development;
c. To eliminate
marginalisation and discrimination of persons with disabilities;
d. To provide
opportunities for a better quality of life for persons with disabilities;
e. To encourage and
support continuous research projects in related areas
Taken from page 3 are
the General principles: Outlined
in the document are several principles, three of which concern individuals with
disabilities and the built environment.
a. Creation of a
legislative base to protect the rights, promote the equalization of
opportunities and thereby enhance the quality of life of persons with
disabilities;
h. Ensuring the
creation of an accessible physical and built environment for persons with
disabilities.
m. Support and
encouragement of research efforts in areas related to disability.
A section was done
specifically on the built environment and measures were outlined that
should be implemented. Some of these included:
a. Establishment of a
task force to prepare an acceptable code of regulations for planning and
building construction to enable persons with disabilities to access and use all
public buildings;
b. The provision of
information on legislation and other measures designed to achieve accessibility
to professionals involved in the design and construction of physical
facilities;
d. The setting up of
specific timeframes for upgrading the existing built environment with
short-term goals such as providing ramps, suitable toilets and handrails for
persons with disabilities.
e. The modification of
an appropriate proportion of public transport vehicles to allow ease of
mobility for persons with disabilities;
h. The adaptation of pavements and pedestrian
crossings to meet the needs of persons with disabilities;
i. The introduction of
zebra crossings to increase ease of mobility by persons with disabilities;
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| Image 1 showing the walkover in Curepe and Image 2 showing pavement on Todd Street San Fernando (click to enlarge) Source: Jonathan E. Ramnarine |
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| (click to enlarge) |
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| Image 3 showing a corner street in PoS (Click to enlarge) Source: P. D'andra Nanda |
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| (click to enlarge) |
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| Image 4 showing pavement area in Charlotte, NC (click to enlarge) Source: NACTO |
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| (click to enlarge) |
References:
National Association of
City Transportation Officials (NACTO). (n.d.) Sidewalks. Retrieved March 18,
2015, from http://www.google.tt/imgres?imgurl=http://nacto.org/wp-content/themes/twentyten/images/usdg/sidewalks/carousel/driveway-crossing.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nacto.org/usdg/street-design-elements/sidewalks/&h=720&w=960&tbnid=G3OZ-ytH-6FTbM:&zoom=1&docid=VhppF0tQBsNznM&ei=tbQcVZbWCdKBygTxqYKICQ&tbm=isch&ved=0CHkQMyhUMFQ
The Office of the Prime Minister. (2010). Policy on Persons With
Disabilities (Trinidad & Tobago). Retrieved April 06, 2015, from http://www.scribd.com/doc/32286918/Policy-on-Persons-With-Disabilities-Trinidad-Tobago#scribd
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