The main objective of the project is Removal of Accessibility Barriers
The accessibility project is informed among others by the broad objective of promoting independent living for PWDs. Independent living requires among others that PWDs are empowered to address their needs through various aids and conditions for an accessible environment, services and information. Accessibility is broad. It includes accessibility to information, accessibility to services such as education, health, water and housing, and accessibility to employment. One key element though that directly affects all the dimensions of accessibility as described above is the physical environment. A physically inaccessible environment constrains the mobility of PWDs and may be dangerous to their health and physical wellbeing. Accessibility greatly impacts on the capacity of PWDs to access and enjoy the various services described above, including access to justice and financial services. In the justice context, challenges accessing information makes it hard for PWDs to follow their trials, push for timely processes, prepare their defences and challenge outcomes.
It is informed by the above that LAPD will focus on litigation to remove barriers to accessibility. In pursuing this, LAPD will focus its litigation on ensuring that accessibility standards as elaborate by the law and best practice are implemented. This will among others be done by bringing cases intended to achieve the following:
- To compel different mandate holders, including, planning authorities, to ensure that developments such as buildings and physical infrastructure comply with the standards
- To compel owners and controllers of buildings and the physical infrastructure to comply with building and other standards on accessibility, and where necessary, to undertake modifications to their structures and infrastructure for reasonable accommodation.
- To cause awareness of the physical accessibility needs of pwds and the related legal frameworks.