Access barriers encountered by persons with mobility disabilities in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

The environment is a critical factor for participation for everyone. The need for accessible transportation and built environment for persons with disabilities to enjoy their basic human rights and fundamental freedoms cannot be overemphasized. This study sought to understand the daily experiences of persons with mobility disabilities with physical and transportation barriers in Accra-Ghana. Photovoice methodology was used to enable participants to tell their stories about access barriers that they encountered daily. A total of 153 pictures remained, out of 431, after the final selection of pictures that best communicated participants’ experiences with accessibility. These pictures were accompanied with 95 narratives corresponding to the content of the pictures as well as the messages that the participants sought to communicate. The pictures were taken from 11 different physical and transportation environments. Evidence from the study demonstrates the existence of barriers in the built environment and transportation, which impact negatively on the psychological and social lives of persons with mobility disabilities. The need for the removal of identified barriers to empower persons with disabilities for sustainable development cannot be overemphasized. The paper therefore, concludes with recommendations targeting the government, social workers, and disability activists about strategies to improve on access to participation for persons with mobility disabilities.

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