Providing more public services for the disabled

By Inge Komardjaja and Peter Neumann

MUENSTER, Germany (JP): Bandung in Indonesia and Muenster in Germany are geographically disconnected and culturally different. In dealing with the problems disabled people face with mobility, there is nothing comparable. Muenster is advanced, whereas Bandung is still at the beginning of addressing disability issues within society. Nonetheless, Bandung can learn from Muenster's success of accessibility and Muenster may appreciate the prevailing tendency of people to gather together, a characteristic of Bandung's culture.

Muenster is an old city of 1,200 years in the northwestern part of Germany with a population of about 281,000 inhabitants. It is a relatively small city, but has been doing pioneering work in the personal independent mobility of disabled people. This is evident from the many accessible public areas in the city, such as disabled-friendly roads and public buildings. The city's landscape and the surroundings areas are flat, a great advantage not only for city planning, including the construction of buildings and infrastructures, but also for convenient maneuvering of wheelchairs.

For the non-disabled the flat areas are excellent for cycling -- facilities for cyclists are among the main priorities of city council. Wide sidewalks with special passages were built to separate cyclists from pedestrians. Couldn't we then ask that it does the same for wheelchair users?

As the disabled are accepted as human beings with the same sentiments and desires, other people have less control over them. No longer are the disabled prisoners in their own homes; they have developed the determination to appear in public, either on their own or in the company of someone. As such, the city's infrastructures have become important and the demand for accessible facilities has to be met.

After World War II, Muenster tried to hold onto its heritage of old buildings and streets as much as possible. Cobblestone streets in the city center are still present as are large pillars to support the overhang of old buildings. The pavement and pillars on the main road are obstacles for wheelchair users or the blind who must make their way through them as well as the crowd of pedestrians. It is also not easy for them to access shops and restaurants, which Muenster's citizens love to do.

Through the passage of time society has learned to accept the disabled as people with special needs no different from anyone else. Such awareness will lead to the human right of equality and less marginalization of the disabled. Soon, the German law of equalization of the disabled will be enacted which incorporates this philosophy.

How about Bandung? The difference between traditional and modern societies must first be addressed. In developed western countries the disabled strive for independence. In traditional societies, a dependence on others is strong, because they lack the resources to support themselves. Consequently, helping each other is more valued while independence gives an offensive impression that one does not need others.

In modern societies technology has made a strong impact on people's lifestyles; It encourages them to be independent, but at the same time they depend on aids, such as wheelchairs and walking sticks. It is no wonder then that the appropriate infrastructures to ease their mobility become essential.

In the Indonesian culture, a reliance on people is accepted, but it also means a willingness to be controlled by others. And if help from people continues for a while, the disabled who, by nature are independent, may develop a feeling of obligation to give or do something in return. Alternatively, the disabled either decide for themselves or are suggested by others to stay home rather than face the problems when going out.

A disabled person may eventually consider himself weak and always in need of help. Leading an independent life would be highly uncommon for the disabled in traditional societies.

Does this mean that the city's infrastructures in Bandung should disregard the obstacles of mobility for disabled people? Of course not. Bandung is a combination of traditional and modern culture, in which traditional values are constantly changing.

As disability issues in Indonesia have yet to become a priority due to the economic crisis, we suggest the promotion of a universal design instead of special designs for the disabled. A universal design here is a concept of physical accessibility which does not only aim at the disabled, but includes all people with or without mobility problems. It is a shift from focusing on the special needs of the disabled to the mobility problems of all citizens.

At the Institute of Geography where we work, a long gentle ramp has been installed in front of the entrance door. The university's postman, who carries with his bicycle a heavy load of letters and parcels, can conveniently deliver mail to the institute by using the ramp, instead of using the steps awkwardly.

This could be applied to Indonesia. With so many street hawkers, eating stalls and men transporting heavy items on their shoulder, it would be excellent if sidewalks were made wider and provided with lower curbs.

An effective use of such obstacle-free facilities needs a strict enforcement of rules. Yet the most important contribution of integrating the disabled into society begins with educating children from kindergarten level or earlier at home, and continuing through the school years and later. Only then can they grow up to be individuals who are sensitive to the difficulties and needs of disabled people.

As a reminder to both the East and West, city planning is for the convenience of citizens from all walks of life -- hence it must consider and include all of society. This is the meaning of a universal design. Hence, it must become self-evident to involve disabled people in the planning and design of the city's infrastructure as exemplified by the city council of Muenster.

Inge Komardjaja is a research visitor at the Institute of Geography, University of Muenster, in Germany. She works with the Research Institute for Human Settlements in Bandung, West Java. Peter Neumann is a lecturer at the Institute of Geography, University of Muenster, in Germany.