Opinion Column: Day of Persons With Disabilities

[Opinion column written by Jonathan Starling]

Today, December 3rd, is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which has been observed annually since being proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1992. The purpose of this observance is to help promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities – to cite the official UN statement on the day.

Each year this day [Dec 3] has a unique theme, and this year the theme is that of ‘sustainable development – the promise of technology’.

I think it’s important to note that disability is a largely manufactured condition – it is the structural conditions of society, particularly the built environment, but also social perceptions and prejudices, that creates ‘disability’. Each one of us experiences different levels of ability throughout our lives, be it temporary, permanent or age-specific.

However, society and the built environment has for far too long been designed around a status quo of ‘one size fits all’ based around the average ability of only a narrow section of society, rather than catering for a range of abilities.

In other words, impairments – that is, long-term limitations of a person’s physical, mental or function – may lead to different abilities, however it is the way that society is organised that creates the ‘disability’, by producing obstacles to access and integration. When these barriers are removed, disabled individuals can be independent and equal in society, with choice and control over their own lives.

And while physical barriers are perhaps the most obvious, social attitudes based on prejudice or stereotype – founded in ignorance – also disable people from having equal opportunities to be part of society.

A General Overview of Bermuda

In this sense, Bermuda has only just begun to make a few steps in the right direction.

The recently released building codes certainly are a vast improvement on the past, there have been a few accessibility reviews of Dockyard, St George’s and the city, and the city itself has implemented some infrastructure changes to the sidewalk, with tactile paving, ramps and improved contrasts.

However there is still much more to do.

A cohesive and island-wide focus on improving our built environment in terms of accessibility is a long way of yet. And the para-transit report, with a focus on a phased transition of our public transport system to improve accessibility and mobility for the differently abled has been quietly collecting dust safely out of public access.

And while our Human Rights Act does cover some aspects of disability, it does not cover – from my reading of the Act – non-physical disabilities or mental health generally. Nor do we have anything comparable to the American’s with Disabilities Act 1990.

While the Bermudian Human Rights Act makes it illegal to discriminate against ‘disabled people’ under certain situations, American’s with Disabilities Act 1990 imposes accessibility requirements for public infrastructure and requires employers to not simply not discriminate against disabled job applicants, but to ensure their workplace is accessible for all, and to make reasonable accommodations for employees. We need a Bermudians with Disabilities Act – otherwise we are only paying lip-service through the Human Rights Act and forcing disabilities and inequality on our own people.

On Technology

Seeing as the focus of this year is on how technology can help remove disability causing barriers, there are a few pieces of technology that we can implement here.

Pedestrian Crossings

• Certain physical impairments lead to reduced mobility. Our crosswalks – and I’m referring here to the ones where one has to wait for a signal to cross – need to ensure that they provide enough time for people of all abilities to cross. Based on a 2012 UK study, people over the age of 65 took an average of 0.9 meters per second for men and 0.8 meters per second for women to walk, whereas countdown timers were designed for an average speed of 1.2 meters per second. Ensuring that countdown timers are designed for 0.8 meters per second reduces the anxiety that such pedestrian crossings can cause for those with reduced mobility.
• All such crossings should also have an audible signal to ensure the visually impaired are aware when it is safe to cross. We have many junctions with this feature, but not all.

Sidewalks & Other

• Sidewalk design needs to be cohesive with the ‘technology’ of curb ramps, tactile paving, contrasts and street furniture needing to be uniform and designed explicitly for accessibility.
• Bold contrasting colours for steps need to be universal for aiding the visually impaired.
• All public and commercial buildings should have entrances and exits explicitly designed for accessibility.
• Lighting needs to be designed with consideration of how resulting light and shadows will impact the visibility of the built environment for the visually impaired.

Television

• At least all local TV stations should be required to provided Closed Captioning to ensure that the hearing impaired are able to keep up to date with local television news. Ideally this should be provided for all TV programming.
• Televised news should also incorporate interpreters fluent with American Sign Language [the dominant sign language used in Bermuda]. At the very least, Government should ensure that they have an interpreter when giving a televised broadcast.

Transport

• At least the primary bus routes [7, 8, 10 and 11] as well as those servicing the Hospital should be wheelchair accessible. This includes not simply the buses themselves, but their related infrastructure at the bus terminal and bus stops.
• Buses should provide both a visual and an audio signal of stops to aid passengers [including visitors to our island], as well as announcements [such as delays or detours].
• The TV monitors at the bus terminal need to be regularly repaired to ensure that they are displaying visual information about the status of buses; this information should also be available in an audio form in a manner so that the visually impaired can also access this information.
• Audio induction loops should be installed at the bus terminal and at ticket counters.
• Text messages should be sent out to all in the event of public transport disruptions, such as a natural disaster or strike action, to ensure awareness for all.
• Siren detectors for cars [these flash or otherwise provide visual cues in a safe manner to alert the hearing impaired of sirens] should be facilitated for the hearing impaired; similarly, hearing impaired drivers should be able to obtain a card they can present to police officers if stopped by them, in order to reduce miscommunications.
• The potential for introducing automatic cars should be investigated as these can provide an independent private transport option for people with various impairments, such as the visually impaired.

Doors & Elevators

• All doors on public or commercial buildings should be designed for wheelchair accessibility.
• Automatic doors are preferable, while all other such doors should have a power assist capability.
• All elevators should be wheelchair accessible.
• All elevators should provide clear visual and audible signals of floor levels and door openings and closings.

These are just a few of the ways that technology can be used to break down at least the physical barriers that create disabilities in our society. They in no way cover all impairments; I have only provided them as starting points. There is also new technologies being developed that can aid the visually impaired without contributing to increased noise pollution in our society.

My priorities would be for Bermuda to:

1. Release, and act on, the 2010 Para-Transit Report;
2. Develop a Bermudian equivalent to the Americans with Disabilities Act 1990;
3. Ensure at least all public buildings are accessible for all, including adequate washroom facilities – including schools;
4. Ensure the built environment of at least the city, Dockyard and St George’s is accessible for all;
5. Ensure that close captioning is available on local TV programs;
6. Ensure that American Sign Language interpreters are available at live Government press releases/announcements;
7. Ensure that human diversity is taught in schools – including the option of teaching American Sign Language as an option equal to French, Spanish or Portuguese in our school system.

- Jonathan Starling has degrees in Ecological Economics and Urban and Regional Planning, and is well known in the online community through his Catch-A-Fire blog, which he has maintained since 2007. He ran as Independent candidate in C#20 Pembroke South West in the 2012 General Election.

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