Wheelchair Users’ Experience and Perspective of Accessibility to Public Services in Jordan wheelchair users' experience in Jordan
Main Article Content
Keywords
environmental accessibility, social stigma, inclusion, Jordan
Abstract
Background: Lack of access to mobility for people with disabilities continues to be widespread. The previous (1983) and latest Jordanian Disability laws (2007) are mandates that public buildings, goods, and services are to be accessible by persons with disabilities. However, Three decades have passed and monitored the outcomes are absent.
The purpose of this paper is to explore the perspectives of wheelchair users to determine whether the disability law was effective or barriers continue to impact their ability to participate in the community.
Methods: The paper used face to face in-depth interviews to extract individuals’ experiences. Obtained transcripts data were coded for predetermined and emergent themes, using a qualitative content analysis approach.
Results: Wheelchair users frequently described past experiences with emotional, pain and despair and suffering. Four themes emerged as critical for understanding the effect of disability policy implementation in Jordan: barriers in the physical environment, the negative mindset of the society and perceived social stigma, and the lack of peer support.
Conclusions: Genuine interventions are needed to provide wheelchair users with services efficiently, at scale, in an environment facilitating physical access and peer support, and reduced social stigma by changing the mindset of people.
Keywords: Wheelchairs, Jordan, accessibility, Qualitative, social attitudes, social inclusion
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Mohammad Ali Mulazadeh, University of Kwazulu-natal (UKZN)
Mohammad A. Mulazadeh, PhD email: mmulazadeh@yahoo.co.uk, Tel: 00447716429252 Dr Mohammad Ali Mulazadeh is an Associate Professor in Urban Planning focusing on Urban land-use, housing development and disability and Environmental Accessibility. As a multidisciplinary researcher and a lecturer he worked with Chamran University in Iran, London South Bank University in UK and University of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa where he was retired.Talal, Al-Areen Engineering Consultants
Dr. Talal S. Alharbi, PHD, Msc, Bsc, is focusing on Universal Design and disability and accessibility research. As an experienced researcher and environmental developer, he has participated in many KSA’s national projects to create an inclusive environment for all. He is currently the CEO of Al-Areen Engineering Consultants in Riyadh, KSA.