Accessibility & Disability Rights

1. Accessibility &
Disability Rights
Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala
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2. Accessibility
• Right to Accessibility
• Physical Environment
• Transportation
• Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
Copyright © Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala | 2022 | License: CC by 4.0

3. Examples
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4. Physical Environment
• 339 Restaurants/Hotel Places
• Around 40 have Ramps
• None have Accessible Menu’s
• Around 25 have Accessible Restrooms
Harmonized Guidelines & Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021 -
https://cpwd.gov.in/Publication/HG2021_MOHUAN.pdf
Copyright © Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala | 2022 | License: CC by 4.0

5. Examples – Entrance Accessibility
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6. Examples - Inaccessible restrooms
Inaccessible restrooms are
those that cannot be used
by people with disabilities.
They may be missing
wheelchair ramps, grab
bars, or other features that
make them usable by
people with disabilities.
Copyright © Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala | 2022 | License: CC by 4.0

7. Examples - Accessible restrooms
Accessible restrooms
are restrooms that are
designed to be used by
people with disabilities.
They typically have
wider doorways, grab
bars, and wheelchair-
accessible fixtures.
Copyright © Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala | 2022 | License: CC by 4.0

8. Examples – Transportation Issues
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9. Example – Transportation Barriers
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10. Transportation
• Road - Draft Accessibility Guidelines for Road Transport - Read here
• Railways- Harmonized Guidelines For Passenger With Disabilities, Over Indian
Railways – Read here
• Air Travel - Accessibility Standards and Provision in Civil Aviation – Read here
• Travel Issues & Implementation Challenges.
All the above mentioned documents are available for download here
Copyright © Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala | 2022 | License: CC by 4.0

11. Examples – Accessible Transportation
Copyright © Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala | 2022 | License: CC by 4.0

12. Examples – Accessible Transportation
Copyright © Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala | 2022 | License: CC by 4.0

13. Examples
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14. Information and Communication Technologies
(ICT)
• BIS Accessibility Standards -17802
• Accessibility Guidelines – Office of CGPDTM – Available here
• Accessibility of Mobile Applications – Practo Case - Orders
• Accessibility of Digital Screens – AdOnMo Case - Case Documents
Copyright © Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala | 2022 | License: CC by 4.0

15. Exercise
X, Y, and Z live in EP Heights a large Apartment Complex. X is a person with
blindness, Y, is a person using a wheelchair, and Z, a person with Autism.
They have requested the Owners of the Association of EP Heights to make
the Apartment accessible so that they can know what is happening in the
community, use the common facilities such as the walking track, clubhouse,
and gym, and participate in cultural and sports activities.
EP Heights has about 200 apartments, with a yearly budget of about One (1)
Crore rupees. About 90% of the budget is used for maintenance, and the rest
is deposited in a bank for future use. The Board of Managers of the Owners
Association has organized a meeting, and they wish to discuss if they should
do anything about the request of X, Y, and Z.
Copyright © Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala | 2022 | License: CC by 4.0

16. Exercise - cont.
The Board is divided into two groups, one in support of making EP Heights
accessible, and another, against spending any money towards accessibility. The
group supporting accessibility is of the view that EP Heights must be made fully
accessible irrespective of the expense, and that extra money can be collected from
all residents, if required, to make the community accessible. The group against
accessibility expense argues that X, Y, and Z decided to stay here knowing the
accessibility issues, and no additional expense must be incurred towards
accessibility. Some basic accommodations can be provided, but other residents
should not be made to pay for three individuals. The family of these individuals
must help/assist them, and it is not the community’s responsibility.
As of now, EP Heights does not have any physical accessibility facilities for use by
persons with blindness or persons using wheelchairs, and most residents do not
interact with persons having social interaction issues such as Z.
Copyright © Dr. Kalyan C. Kankanala | 2022 | License: CC by 4.0

17. Exercise - cont.
Possible Solutions?
What do you think? What do you believe must be done?
Please think from these perspectives:
a. Sharing of information, notices, and communications;
b. Making common facilities such as clubhouse, sports facility, and walking track
accessible; and
c. Arranging facilities so that X, Y, and Z can participate in cultural activities of the
community.
Note that each of their accessibility requirements is different, and arranging
facilities may require financial resources.
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18. Thank You
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