Access to all is the call

By Renton de Alwis

This article written in September 2010 dealt with the resolve of a courageous campaigner for ‘access to all’ and the gains made in the area both here in Sri Lanka and internationally. While saluting his and others the like of him for their resolve and concerted effort, it is reproduced now on my Blog-site, as a reminder that there is much more which needs to be done.

 

On numerous occasions during my time with Sri Lanka Tourism, my friend from the early 1980’s Dr. Ajith Perera, complained to me about Sri Lanka tourism not doing enough to provide access to the disabled. I remember Ajith as an active and vibrant member participant at discussions at the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) and as a cricket enthusiast, who later qualified as a test umpire. He was denied his call to officiate at the first test match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand due to an accident; when a branch of a tree fell on the car he was travelling in.

Getting it right

His clear call, still active and vibrant is “enable us, we don’t want to be denied access to places where all must go, it is society that makes us disabled”. Those who know Dr. Ajith will know what a strong campaigner he is, for creating enabling environments for all. He has himself done a lot. Created an organisation that focuses on the issue and written guidelines on how to get it right. Gone to hotels, business houses, government offices and convinced some of them of the merits of providing access and advised them on where to begin. He appeals to architects and builders to rethink their plans when creating spaces for living and for business. He calls for enabled access at entrances to buildings, designated ways of moving about and easy access toilets with larger doors, space and special fixtures.

When I read this Monday morning, Imtiaz Muqbil’s ‘Travel Impact Newswire’ (TIN), an e-newsletter published out of Bangkok, Dr. Ajith and his relentless campaigning came to mind. Today, he is somewhat a winner. On the ending of the war with terrorism, there is rejuvenated interest in Sri Lanka to look after our disabled soldiers and initiatives taken by the authorities with them in mind to also help better facilitate, an enabling environment for all. But I know that Dr. Ajith would say ‘not enough, there is so much more to be done’. He would say that, ‘it must be a movement, growing not out of pity, but in recognition that it is a necessity’.

 

Global effort

The truth is that it is not only the estimated 650 million of the world’s disabled that need facilitation of access. The world’s population is ageing and we will have many, many more millions joining the ranks, sooner than later. Then of course, there are the many millions of the poor, also among the able, living below the poverty-line who need access to food, water, shelter, education and to a decent life.

The e-newsletter had two stories, the first was quoting a UN news release which read “A senior UN official was calling on all UN Member States to become party to the world body’s landmark convention protecting the rights of people with disabilities, which has already acquired 146 signatories and 90 ratifications”.

"In the past year, the number of signatures and ratifications of this legal instrument has more than doubled," Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Sha Zukang told a recent meeting of ‘States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’, which came into force in May 2008. "These results represent remarkable progress in a short period of time" he has said.

Not enough

Yet, noting that fewer than half of the member states have actually ratified the convention he further said “persons with disabilities are more likely to be poor and lacking access to equal social, health, educational and employment services. It is the international community’s collective responsibility to address these inequalities."

"We must advocate for increased recognition and protection of their human rights, including the right to education. We must adapt our communities to their needs wherever possible. We must also change the hearts and minds of the public about the abilities of persons with disabilities", he is reported to have said.

I am sure Sri Lanka would have no issue at all about ratifying the convention, if it is not already done. That should make Dr. Ajith and many other leaders calling out for our disabled soldiers and citizen’s welfare happy and hopeful.

Baby-boomers

We all know that with ratification of conventions, comes obligations. To fulfil these obligations we need focus, dedicated action at the policy and strategic levels to allocate resources in the right places and monitor its effective implementation.

UN brings focus on issues in many different ways. Some of them are more valid than others. Some become hobby-horses of some in powerful positions or of consultants. But here is an area that would impact on all. For, most of the world’s top leadership are of the Baby-boomer generation and this is an issue of direct relevance for their own future.

Access Tourism

The other story in the TIN made the day. That is the news of a tourism conference with a difference on “Access Tourism”. To be held in early October in New Zealand, it is organised by the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute. In an introduction to the conference, the organisers said “Access Tourism is tourism, travel, and hospitality for people with disabilities and seniors. The Access Tourism market is already a sizeable market worldwide, and is set to grow rapidly with the ageing of the large Baby Boomer cohort, because disability increases with age”

It also stated that this is a market that is virtually ignored in New Zealand. “Government and industry here seem largely unaware of the coming demand for ‘ ‘ ‘Access Tourism’ products and services, and there are no strategies to cater for this lucrative market. This contrasts sharply with the planned development of Access Tourism and/or the development of Access Tourism action plans by our major tourism competitors and in our major tourism markets”.

Potent partnership

In New Zealand, tourism has taken the lead, for they see good opportunity in it. There is a lesson for us to learn, and it is that we need to look much beyond the now to the future, take strategic directions. No matter which sector is in the driving seat, initiatives such as these bring benefit to all. In Sri Lanka, a partnership between tourism and defence services disabled welfare will be a good way forward to get it done right.

I hope Dr. Ajith will agree with me.

 

Pix credit: Island.lk