Disability is not Inability

:: AS PARLIAMENT PLANS MAJOR RENOVATIONS

What factors are important in the on-going renovations of government buildings? Does the government make renovations with the Disability ACT in mind? Government Building should be adjusted with accessibility in mind. Jogoo House, Treasury and now Parliament are making renovations without thinking universal design.

While we have seen that profit can motivate private sector to make adjustments albeit temporary, we need to see more leadership in government buildings. The on-going renovations in the last six months of 2006-7 in various government building have not integrated accessibility in their contruction.

Universal design in construction implies that every one is able to access a public building irrespective of his/her impairment. " A proprietor of a public building shall adapt it to suit persons with disabilities in such manner as may be specified by the Council."

While the NCPWD has not implemented this provision of the ACT the need to encourage voluntary adjustments should not be over looked both in the private and public buildings. This can bets be done through effective promotion of the spirit of the Persons with Disability ACT.

The renovations going on in the various government ministry buildings should at least be made to include acessibility issues. The government ministries need to be atleast aware of the requirements of the ACT. All the ministries are bound to integrate disability issues in the internal operations.

:: The Persons with Disability ACT

:: Private sector leading disability friendly adjustment

:: What Motivates Public Building adjustments