Projects / Programmes
Measures for the realisation of the rights of the disabled to barrier-free access
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.08.00 |
Social sciences |
Urbanism |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S000 |
Social sciences |
|
Disabled people, social inclusion, communication, barrier-free access, built environment
Researchers (8)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
In Slovenia, the rights of people with disabilities (like those of other citizens) are guaranteed by Article 14 of the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia which provides that “In Slovenia everyone shall be guaranteed equal human rights and fundamental freedoms irrespective of national origin, race, sex, language, religion, political or other conviction, material standing, birth, education, social status, invalidity or other personal circumstance. All persons shall be equal before the law.” (2004 Amendment, Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 69/04).
In addition to this constitutional provision and on the basis of the above-mentioned EC documents, Slovenia adopted two important documents in this area, namely:
• Accessible Slovenia Strategy and
• Action Programme for the Disabled 2007-2013
The Strategy on Accessible Slovenia is premised on the recognition that care for the disabled presents one of the most sensitive and specific components of general social development and, especially, economic policy. The major objectives of the strategy are to eliminate built and communication barriers, to regulate access to work, knowledge and information, to create equal living opportunities for the disabled and people with functional impairements and to provide technical support to those who need it, in order to enable them to integrate successfully in life and work.
The Action Programme for the Disabled specifies in detail the main tasks of the policies concerning care for the disabled for the period 2007-2013, the concrete goals that need to be achieved in specific areas, as well as the major institutions that are responsible for the performance of the determined tasks.
The aim of the research is to analyse, with reference to the goals set in both documents, the level of accessibility of the built and communication environment and how disabled people realise their right to social inclusion.
Significance for science
In contrast to predominant research practice in this area, our research adopted a ‘bottom-up’ approach. The reason for adopting such an approach was to enable disabled persons themselves to actively participate in the identification of barriers and to allow them to suggest solutions which they consider necessary for solving the problems they encounter in their lives. In comparison with the ‘top-down’ approach (which usually involves the passing of laws, formulation of various strategies and determination of measures and goals), the ‘bottom-up’ approach presented an advantage such that the disabled persons themselves, who experience various forms of discrimination, were able to suggest concrete and precise proposals that they consider to be more efficient in the removal of barriers in the built and communications environments. The results of the research reveal the greatest weaknesses and shortcomings of current policies and the efforts to guarantee barrier-free movement. These important findings indicate the new directions towards which future research in this area should be oriented.
Among the numerous proposals put forward by the disabled we particularly mention here the suggestion to conduct a thorough investigation and registration of major barriers in all important public buildings and other public facilities throughout the entire country. The following step would be to issue a demand to those responsible for the existence of a particular barrier to remove it in the shortest time possible. This measure is urgent as the first step towards the effective implementation of the strategies that have been adopted in this area and the realisation of the goals set in the Action Programme for the Disabled 2007-2013. The registration of barriers will require the creation of an interactive geographical information system (GIS). The system will be designed in such a way as will allow free access to all disabled persons in the country. The aim is to ensure extensive constant monitoring of the situation in space and timely intervention where necessary. After its successful implementation in Slovenia, we hope to be able to present the system abroad as an example of good practice in the removal of built and communications barriers.
Significance for the country
The built environment often presents barries which make it difficult or completely stop disabled people from execrising their right to social inclusion. At the same time it is important to point out that the free movement of goods and persons, and the increasing of social cohesion have been declared as important goals of the Lisbon Strategy. Slovenia has committed herself to the implementation of the Lisbon Strategy. The results of the research present a basis for the realisation of one of the goals of the national development policy in the part which states that everybody must be enabled “personality development, self confidence and equal opportunities for establishment in society”. If effectively implemented, the measures that we propose in the last chapter of the research report will enable disabled persons to contribute, with their potential, to the general welfare and development of Slovenia.
Most important scientific results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
