Accessible government

Abstract

In a democratic society, any member of the public can expect to gain access to Parliament should be or she so desire. The buildings which house Parliament should therefore be accessible by all members of the public. The aim of this report is to identify any barriers present in Parliament Buildings which would prevent ambulatory disabled persons from gaining access to Parliament, and to thereby learn more about the practical difficulties faced by disabled people in buildings. Goldsmith (1976, Page 16) states: 'Buildings always have been, are, and always will be, geared to suit two-legged able bodied people....nearly all of us will eventually become old and doddery, that nearly all of us will at some stage in life have a temporary crippling accident or disease, that all of us were at the start clumsy toddlers, and that approaching half of us have, had, or will have our mobility restrained by pregnancy; all of us therefore can claim handicappedness and will benefit from having buildings suitably organised for wheelchair users and others who are disabled.'