Access for disabled mere decoration<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A considerable number of state and private-owned buildings in the
\ncapital have provided access for people with disabilities, but
\naccording to an advocacy group, they are little more than
\ndecoration as most of them are useless.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Association of Women with Disabilities (HWPCI)
\nchairwoman, Ariani Abdul Mun'im, said on Thursday that a number
\nof shopping malls, government office buildings and prayer houses
\nhad built parking lots, lifts and toilets for the disabled.<\/p>\n
"But the facilities do not comply with the standards set by
\nthe now-defunct ministry of public works," she told The Jakarta
\nPost, referring to a ministerial decree No. 468\/1998 on access
\nfor the disabled.<\/p>\n
The decree stipulates that a handicapped ramp must be built
\naccording to a 1:12 ratio, meaning that a 12-meter-long access
\nhas to be built for each one-meter-high set of stairs.<\/p>\n
However, some buildings apply a 1:6 ratio which means that a
\ndisabled person still has to count on other's help to get up a
\nramp, said Ariani, who has a visual impairment.<\/p>\n
She said that shopping malls such as the Kelapa Gading Mall in
\nNorth Jakarta had in fact provided parking areas accessible for
\nthe disabled but the areas are frequently occupied by regular
\nusers.<\/p>\n
"In other malls, the parking lots are also too narrow for a
\nwheelchair to move around," she added.<\/p>\n
Moreover, Ariani said, the existing facilities for the
\ndisabled were, for the most part, poorly maintained.<\/p>\n
"We found that the heightened-platform to accommodate the
\ndisabled in phone booths have been lowered to the original
\nposition. While the Braille on several sidewalks have been
\nobstructed by huge pots," she said, citing the result of a survey
\nconducted by the HWCPI, the Jakarta Architect's Club and School
\nof Civil Engineering at Trisakti University in 2001.<\/p>\n
The survey also found that from over 30 public facilities
\nsurveyed, only Gambir railway station in Central Jakarta had
\nparking lots, elevators, toilets, public phones and walkways that
\nare accessible for the disabled.<\/p>\n
The railway station is one of the pilot-project sites
\nproviding access for disabled persons. The project started during
\nthe administration of then president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid,
\nwho is partly visually disabled and whose wife is confined to a
\nwheelchair.<\/p>\n
Ariani concluded the poor state of access for the disabled
\nhighlighted the negligence of building contractors and managers
\nin upholding the rights of the disabled.<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 10
\npercent of the Indonesia's 220 million population had some
\ndisability.<\/p>\n
The HWCPI recorded 10 percent of 12 million people living in
\nJakarta and surrounding municipalities as disabled.<\/p>\n
Separately, vice president of World Blind Union Asia Pacific,
\nDaniel Tangkesalu, said the discrimination against the disabled
\nhas yet to reduce despite the government's policy to ease their
\naccess to public facilities and services.<\/p>\n
Citing an example, he said most public transportation drivers
\ndeclined to let the disabled on board although the latter is
\nwilling to pay the fare double.<\/p>\n
"They have a perception that disabled people will only cause
\nthem trouble," he told the Post.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/access-for-disabled-mere-decoration-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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