Report on the topic: Barrier-free environment as a means for socialization of persons with disabilities

Speaker: Isakov Oybek Yusufbekovich

Chairman of the Association of Disabled People of Uzbekistan.

September 04, 2024

 

Barrier - free environment for the disabled — it is an environment in which physical and social barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in public and public life on an equal basis with other people are eliminated. This includes accessible architecture (ramps, elevators, wide doors), special devices (sound and tactile signs, adapted toilets), and services tailored to their needs (for example, websites and documents accessible to visually impaired people).

The main goal is to create a barrier-free environment - provide all citizens, regardless of their physical abilities, with equal conditions for life, work and recreation.

"An accessible physical environment is one of the key conditions for implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities." The Convention emphasizes the need to create conditions in which persons with disabilities can participate on an equal basis with others in the life of society and the State. This includes access to the physical environment, transportation, information, communication, and services and institutions that are open to the general public.

An accessible barrier-free environment involves removing architectural barriers, creating a comfortable and safe space that allows people with disabilities to move freely, access services and use all public resources. This is the basis for the realization of other rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, such as the right to education, to work, and to participate in political and cultural life.

To ensure an accessible physical environment for persons with disabilities, the State needs to take a set of measures aimed at removing barriers and creating an inclusive learning environment.

In this regard, the Association of Disabled People of Uzbekistan has developed recommendations that state bodies should take to create an accessible physical environment for people with disabilities:

1. Development and implementation of legislation and regulations:

• Adoption and implementation of laws and standards governing accessibility of buildings, transport, information and services.
• Establish mandatory requirements for new buildings and infrastructure to meet the principles of accessibility.
• Adoption of the state program "Barrier-free environment".

2. Audit and upgrade of existing infrastructure:

• Assessment of existing facilities for accessibility by persons with disabilities.
• Making changes to the infrastructure of existing facilities, such as installing ramps, elevators, tactile paths, adapting entrances and exits, and ensuring the accessibility of transport infrastructure.

3. Financing and subsidies:

• Annual allocation of state budget funds (both in the national and local state budgets) to provide a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities.
• Create subsidy programs for the private sector to encourage them to create barrier-free environments for people with disabilities.
• State financing and subsidizing of programs and projects, non-governmental non-profit organizations of disabled people, aimed at creating a barrier-free environment for people with disabilities.

 

 

4. Training and awareness raising:

• Conduct educational programs and trainings for architects, builders, transport companies and other professionals to ensure that they understand and apply barrier-free standards and accessibility principles.
• Include the subject "Standards for creating barrier-free environments for people with disabilities and other low-mobility groups of the population"in the architecture and Civil engineering educational institution.
• Raising public awareness of the importance of creating barrier-free environments and inclusivity. (which is convenient for people with disabilities, convenient for everyone)
• Promote the concept and principles of "Universal Design"in society.

5. Control and monitoring:

• Creation of an effective state system for monitoring compliance with legislation on creating a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities.
• Introduction of sensitive sanctions for non-compliance with the requirements for providing a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities.
• Providing state support to non-governmental non-profit organizations of persons with disabilities that exercise public control and monitor the implementation of the requirements of the legislation on ensuring a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities.

6. Participation of persons with disabilities in the decision-making process:

• Inclusion and involvement of representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities in the development and evaluation of programs and measures to create an accessible physical environment.
• Consultation with persons with disabilities to take into account their needs and opinions.

 

 

 

7. Information and technological accessibility:

• Ensuring accessibility of information and digital services, including the adaptation of websites, documents, and applications for people with visual and hearing impairments.
• Development of technologies, including digital technologies, that help people with disabilities to use infrastructure on an equal basis with other people.
• Encourage the design, development, production and distribution of natively accessible information and communication technologies and systems
• Adaptation of existing digital technologies to the state language.
• Provide various types of personal assistant services, including guides, teflocomenters, and sign language interpreters.

These measures should aim to create an environment in which persons with disabilities can live a full life, participate in society and have access to the same opportunities as other citizens of the country.

The presence or absence of an accessible physical environment for persons with disabilities indicates the presence or absence of discrimination on the basis of disability.

 

Thank you for your attention.

04.09.2024 г.