Education is important for everybody—this includes people with and without disabilities. Among other things, education gives us the opportunity to learn to read and write, it gives us the opportunity to make friends and socialise with other people, and it gives us the opportunity to learn new skills — skills that are important for employment in later life.

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) recognises the importance of education for social and economic development through the various educational initiatives it has taken. However, many children with disabilities overwhelmingly are not included in either mainstream or specialist schooling. While there are many barriers that still exist to ensuring equal access to education for people with disabilities, this booklet focuses on the issues of physical accessibility to the school facility.

Health and hospital facilities are places regularly visited by sick and elderly
people, and people whose physical condition is often poor. A greater
proportion of people with difficulties in moving will be concentrated in such
places. They should, therefore, be places where additional attention is given
to making them easy and safe for people to get to, find their way, and move around
in.

Accessible design standards exist to make environments easier for all to move
around in—including the elderly, sick, disabled, and pregnant women who often
find it more difficult than others. Government regulations specify that all
new buildings should conform to such standards. By around 2013 it is
anticipated that all existing buildings will have to be upgraded to meet these
standards.

A booklet produced in Sri Lanka that is intended to provide an overview of the accessible features required in Sri Lankan buildings and public spaces. Images around Sri Lanka are included to demonstrate access issues as a result of poor design or modification, as well as appropriate design. This booklet utilises Sri Lankan Standards where applicable. This booklet is intended to provide an overview of some of the basic features of accessibility required to ensure as many people can enter and use public buildings as possible—including people with disabilities. The main design considerations for each of the environmental features are identified. Examples of poor and better access, along with common problems are also shown. When implementing accessible design, try to consider the implications for all people who use the building or space—disabled and non-disabled. Consult disabled people’s organisations, occupational therapists, or architects with experience in accessible design for guidance if required.

This survey, by the Spinal Cord Industry of Australia, investigates transport options for people with spinal cord injury.