Accessibility for Persons With Disabilities in Built Environment of Urban Area: Case Study of George Town, Penang

Abstract

Persons with Disabilities (PwD) confront several challenges that hinder them from fully exercising their rights and participating in social, professional, and cultural activities when it comes to accessing built environment. This paper is to investigate the accessibility challenges that PwD face in George Town, Penang. The questionnaire survey techniques employed was to obtain data from a group of PwD. The questionnaire was conducted on wheelchair users, the walking impaired, the visually impaired, and the hearing impaired in George Town areas. Most PwD three key challenges, such as narrow sidewalks, uneven sidewalk surfaces, barriers on sidewalks and dangerous drop curbs. Accessibility facilities in George Town still need to be improved to make it easier for PwD to get around. The findings and recommendations in this study would assist in improving current access to a built environment so that PwD may visit the George Town areas easily and safely.

Analysis of the Accessibility Improvement Index in Urban Areas through Heritage Buildings Used as Museums—Case Studies in the Region of Murcia (Spain)

“…The urban environment is constantly evolving to adapt to societal needs, including universal accessibility. The references we examined [17,18,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27]] not only support our findings but also highlight a growing scholarly interest in universal accessibility. Among the constraints of the urban environment are its size and features, such as the presence of slopes or level changes, as well as the fact that these areas were not designed with universal accessibility parameters in mind.…”

“…The social and technical significance of the discrimination caused by architectural barriers is evident in the extensive existing scientific literature, which addresses the topic across different physical environments that surround us: the urban environment [17,18,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27], residential architecture [18,[28][29][30][31][32], public buildings [33][34][35][36], transportation [19,20,37,38], and natural spaces [18,39].…”

Pemenuhan Aksesibilitas bagi Penyandang Disabilitas di Kawasan Wisata Jam Gadang dan Sekitarnya, Kota Bukittinggi, Sumatera Barat

“…Kawasan wisata yang menerapkan prinsip kota inklusif mampu menyediakan fasilitas dan aksesibilitas bagi pengunjung yang sedang melakukan aktivitas wisata, termasuk bagi pengunjung yang memiliki kebutuhan khusus [18]. Aksesibilitas dapat diartikan pada kemudahan seseorang untuk dapat melakukan perjalanan, kegiatan, dan tujuan menggunakan moda transportasi yang disukai [19]. Definisi aksesibilitas prasarana adalah kemudahan seluruh kalangan…”

Design of a Support Tool to Improve Accessibility in Heritage Buildings—Application in Case Study for Public Use

“…The interest in understanding the level of accessibility within these environments is evidenced by the wealth of scientific literature on this subject, which highlights its social relevance and the need for action. These studies encompass urban environments, which play a significant role in enhancing health and quality of life [27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. These studies reveal the lack of accessibility in urban public spaces, natural areas, or parks.…”