Accessibility Audits
However, for persons with disabilities, the barriers to equal participation in society due to an inaccessible environment are much greater. Accessibility audits have been developed by the GAATES to address the needs for accessibility and information about reality of disability to the public.
The United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities [UNCRPD] defines disability as the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. The UNCRPD further states that persons with disabilities include those have long term physical mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
Further, it is important to observe that persons with disabilities face physical, social, economic and attitudinal [stigmatization and discrimination] barriers that exclude them from participating fully and effectively as equal members of society. They are disproportionately represented among the world’s poorest, and lack equal access to basic resources such as education, employment, healthcare and social and legal support systems, as well as have a higher rate of mortality. In spite of this situation, disability has remained largely invisible in the mainstream development agenda and its processes.
Features involve in Accessibility Audits
- Areas for improvement (e.g. no accessible car spaces in the car park or the door in the accessible toilet on the ground floor is incorrectly located and therefore the WC is inaccessible);
- The current accessibility of the building/property/site.
- Good/bad practice in relation to facilities management that an organization has in place; positive accessibility features (e.g. counter loop at reception, good use of lighting and color throughout building, signage).
Accessibility Audits conducted by STEP
- Nestle Pakistan all over the country
- Telenor Pakistan offices across the country
- Australian High Commission
- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA)
- Sightsavers (LRBT Hospitals)
- Public places of District Muzaffargarh (Schools, Hospitals, Mosques, Union Council Offices and other public buildings)
- Polling Stations of Islamabad in collaboration with ECP
- Government Schools in FATA
- Government Schools in district Nowshera and Charsadda
- Securities and exchange commission of Pakistan (SECP) Islamabad Office.
- CHEF International Office
- DMRC Charsadda