Disability Inclusive Infrastructure Programmes
New guidance published
Our aim is for our policies and programmes to be inclusive and accessible for all. As part of our promise to leave no one behind under the Global Goals we have committed to ensure that our infrastructure programmes take consideration of people with disabilities. To deliver on this, and to make sure that our Advisers and our partners have access to world class research, evidence and guidance to inform their programming, we have worked with Evidence on Demand to produce a Topic Guide on disability considerations for infrastructure programmes.
The scale of the challenge
Approximately 15% of the world’s population, over a billion people, have a disability and 80% live in developing countries. Almost all of us will be temporarily or permanently impaired at some point in our lives and with an ageing population, the number affected will increase. 285 million people across the world are visually impaired, 39 million of whom are blind, while 90% of people who are visually impaired live in developing countries (WHO 2014). An estimated 38% of people over the age of 60 have an impairment or disability (WHO 2011).
Why accessible infrastructure is important
Infrastructure is critical to social functioning with direct impact on social well-being, earnings, education and health. When infrastructure is inaccessible we exclude people, we lock them out of development, and we deny them the right to participate in society. Infrastructure is integral to almost every part of our lives. Transport Infrastructure is particularly critical. We use it to access other services. Inaccessible transport systems exclude people with disabilities, marginalising them and locking them out of development. The lack of accessibility in infrastructure comes down to these factors:
- Inadequate knowledge or understanding with decision makers not understanding the implications of design and failing to understand the challenges and risks
- Lack of user input from people with disabilities and reduced mobility not being brought in to the planning, design and implementation process
- Missed Opportunities with the potential for added value for universal access to be missed
We need to take a systems approach to accessibility
Thinking about making a build accessible is good but it is not enough. When considering transport systems, we need to look at the whole journey from door to door. Failure at any one point in the chain means the whole system fails. This includes vehicles and the people who make the system work.
Won’t this cost the earth?
No! Our friends over at the World Bank and the World Health Organisation tell us that the cost of integrating accessibility into new buildings and infrastructure can be negligible, amounting to less than 1% of the capital development cost (WHO/WB 2011). This guidance contains lots of useful information on what is required to ensure cost-effective and practical solutions, including a reflection on the cost implications of inclusive design versus retrofitting.
Nothing about us without us
It is essential to consult and involve people with disabilities. Their perspectives, combined with an understanding of the technical issues can help ensure cost-effective and practical solutions. This requires decision makers to have a better understanding of the barriers faced by people with disabilities. To achieve this there needs to be greater social awareness and appreciation of the challenges.
So what can you expect to find in this guidance?
The guidance has been designed to be used by Advisers and Programme Managers in development organisations and by implementing partners. This is what you can expect to find:
- An outline of the different ways infrastructure can impact people with disabilities
- A description of best practices in project planning, engineering, design and implementation (including consideration of procurement and monitoring and evaluation activities)
- Clear guidance on what is required to ensure cost-effective and practical solutions, including a reflection on the cost implications of inclusive design versus retrofitting
- Examples of innovative partnerships with the private sector to address the inclusion of people with disabilities
- Recommendations on how to incorporate the principals of universal access into all infrastructure projects
So take a look and if you have any questions or feedback we’d love to hear from you by email.
Want to know more?
- Download your copy of the Accessible Infrastructure Topic Guide here
- Read our Policy on Standards of Accessibility for People with Disabilities in DFID Financed Education Construction
- Sign up for our Newsletter for quarterly updates on best practice, evidence and news
- Follow DFID Inclusive Societies Department on Twitter and Medium DFID Inclusive Societies
- Read our Disability Framework
- Find out more about how to disaggregate disability data
- Read our Inclusive Learning Topic Guide
- Read our Gender and Infrastructure Topic Guide
