1.1 Universal Accessibility and Universal Design
Accessibility in the built environment enables persons with disabilities (PWDs) to carry out their daily activities and to participate safely, independently, with confidence, and with dignity in any social activity, work, education, etc.). The concept of accessibility may appear to be simple or intuitive, but despite the word being known and in common use, no unambiguous definition of it exists3. The Vietnamese Law on Persons with Disabilities, provides the following definition:
“ Accessibility means to ensure persons with disabilities can use public facilities, transportation, information technology, cultural services, sports, tourism and other appropriate services to integrate into the community”. (Clause 8, Article 2, Law on Persons with Disabilities)
However, PWDs are not the only ones who can benefit from accessible built environments. Therefore, the definition can become more inclusive to encapsulate all beneficiaries, such as the definition proposed by the European Concept of Accessibility (CCPT, 1996)4:
“ Accessibility is a basic feature of the built environment. It is the way in which houses, shops, theatres, parks and places of work can be reached and used. Accessibility enables people to participate in the social and economic activities for which the built environment is intended.” European Concept of Accessibility, 1996.
Universal Accessibility Taking this concept to its wider expression we can define what is known as the Universal Accessibility (UA) paradigm. It refers to accessibility everywhere, accessibility for everyone, and accessibility at all times. The idea of UA aims to produce environments, products, services and systems that can be used by all members of society (including the disabled, older people, parents with strollers, children, people carrying loads and luggage, those who are obese, people who are unusually tall or short, etc.), in order to avoid any form of exclusion and provide full personal autonomy for everyone without distinctions. The World Bank Disability Inclusion and Accountability Framework states that “lack of accessibility hinders participation in the job market and in social and civic activities. This results in disadvantage and vulnerable situations for persons with disabilities, leading to disproportionate rates of poverty, deprivation, and exclusion. Accessible urban environments also benefit other population groups, including older persons and children”5.
Universal Design A key element of UA is Universal Design, a concept proposed in the 1990s by Ronald Mace, which dictates that when developing products, environments and services, we must consider from the initial design and to the maximum extent possible, the span of abilities of all citizens, and not just the average person6. Seven
Iwarsson,S & Stahl, A. (2003). Accessibility, usability and universal design: positioning and definition of concepts describing person-environment relationships. Disability and Rehabilitation, 25, 57-66 4 CCPT (1996) Concepto Europeo de Accesibilidad (European Concept for Accessibility) [English translation). Spanish version of CEAPAT, IMSERSO: Madrid 5 World Bank Disability Inclusion and Accountability Framework 2018, 3
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Urban Accessibility Design Guideline
