PLANNING FOR THE HANDICAPPED

Abstract

On a global scale, there are more than 500 million people or *ten percent of the world's population who are physically and mentally disabled. Human disability is a major medical, social and economic problem and is expected to grow. In our local context, there are at this point, a total number of 11594 persons who are disabled. Although this number may not appear too alarming against our total population of approximately 2.5 million , they nevertheless have an impact in our society: they represent a potential source of manpower which should not be kept away in institutions and hospitals. At the time, they are also members of the society and are therefore entitled to equal opportunities like any other able-bodied person. They should and they can develop their abilities and pursue life to its fullest. Opportunities such as accessible buildings can be provided to accomodate their mobility needs. A study made on the shopping centre, Thomson Plaza has shown what the barriers are and how design features can be incorporated to make the building accessible to the disabled. While these design features are essential to encourage disabled persons to use buildings, management policies of the building should not be ignored because they too have a part to play in creating a barrier-free environment for the handicapped. These measures, whether in the form of design features or management considerations, do not command drastic modifications of high costs nor inconvenience. They merely reflects the way how people value others and how they value themselves. The analysis of the case study has also shown that the provision of accessible shopping centres or buildings should be complemented with accessible modes of transport. These are the two areas where solutions should be found in order to build a barrier-free environment where the handicapped can truly and fully make the most of living.