Fast tracking access for the disabled

The topic for the Daily News debate next month is “Fast-tracking access for the disabled”. The Government has promulgated that all public buildings and public facilities should provide access for the differently abled by 2010.

However, we find that the progress in this direction is too slow both in the Government and private sectors. With just three years to go for the deadline, even some newly constructed buildings lack facilities for the disabled.

We report elsewhere in this newspaper that the Railways will be installing electronic display devices to help deaf passengers.

We hope it is a first step towards making all public places disabled-friendly. Nevertheless, much more needs to be done in this sphere. Retro-fitting disabled friendly facilities at existing buildings will also be necessary.

If you are disabled, gaining access to a public building or facility in this country is a nightmare. There are no ramps for wheelchairs in buildings or buses. They cannot use normal washrooms. Blind people are almost completely neglected in designing and building public structures.

On the other hand, even a brief visit to a developed country gives us an idea on how the differently abled should be treated. From currency notes that have tactile designs embossed on both sides to help the visually impaired to buses which can lower their steps to accommodate wheelchairs, all public facilities are built with the disabled in mind.

No building permits are issued unless such criteria are met. The wheelchair sign is displayed prominently at many public buildings to show that they can easily be accessed by the disabled.

As a country that harbours ambitions of becoming a leading economic powerhouse in the region, Sri Lanka cannot afford to lag behind in this area. This is why it is imperative to expedite the drive to make all public places disabled friendly.

Write in to the Daily News debate on this issue, pointing out existing shortcomings and how more facilities could be created for the disabled. We are especially keen to hear the views of the differently-abled in this regard. Send in your contributions (containing 750-1,000 words) to ‘Daily News Debate’, Daily News, Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, PO Box 1217, Colombo, or via e-mail to [email protected] before May 15, 2007.