MR WABOTLHE CHIMIDZAMR WABOTLHE CHIMIDZA

CHAIRPERSONCHAIRPERSON BOTSWANA SOCIETY OF

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

BOTSWANA

REGIONAL SEMINAR ON ACCESSIBILITY OF

THE ENVIRONMENT UNIVERSAL DESIGN, TOURISM AND

DEVELOPMENT

1-3 MARCH 2010

MAPUTO

MOZAMBIQUE

ACCESSIBILITY OF THE BUILT-ENVIRONMENT

BOTSWANABOTSWANA

INTRODUCTION

• This is a key factor for People with Disabilities that prevents them from achieving independence participation and social inclusion in the society.

• Accessible built environment provides an independence in pursue an activities in social, economic and cultural in their daily life.

• People with Disabilities are faced with barriers which effectively prevent them to participate as equal citizen.

• As disabled people we have an obligation to sustain the pressure in the struggle for our liberation.

ACCESS TOURISM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

• In most of the built environment for tourism is not catering for People with Disabilities

- Public transportation

- Building e.g hotels

- Airports

- Parks

- An accessible information

- Recreational areas

Access Tourism For People With Disabilities Cont.

• Free accessibility has become a concern in his developing world - In roads they are some payment which prevent PWD for free movement from one point to another - Steps in most buildings - Counter been to high to be reach by people

with disability. - Information not written in other format e.g

sing language and brail - When people with disabilities plan a trip it

became expensive because they have to cater for that person.

Access Tourism For People With Disabilities Cont.

- Out date policies and laws which prevent some people in the society to accept people

with disabilities in some places

e.g – work places ( discriminatory laws)

- Lack of adequate customer service training special for people with disabilities.

- Sightseeing of people with disabilities which make them un comfortable.

RECOMMENDATIONS• Government and agencies need to have

budgets and timelines for the successful implementation of the Disability strategy.

• There is need to ensure that all infrastures are accessible to People with Disabilities.

• We must have some plans for equal treatment.

• Right of People to equal participation in society must be respected by tourism providers.

THANK YOU.

END