Sidewalk accessibility and pedestrian safety among students with physical disability in the University of Cape Coast

Abstract

In pursuance of the UN’s Convention on the Right of Persons with Disability and Ghana’s disability act, the University of Cape Coast has equally instituted a string of interventions to ensure equitable access to its facilities to all students regardless of one’s disability. Emphasis on this has however focused on the modification and inclusion of disability accessories in the construction of new facilities as well as the enactment of disability inclined policies related to admission, residential status and others aspect of campus life. One key area that has not received much attention has been the nature of campus walking environment and how it promotes easy mobility among all students’ groups. To assess the nature of campus walking environment, the study employed the use of an accessibility auditing scheme and also engaged 30 visually impaired and one wheelchair user who were reached through snowballing. An in-depth interview guide was used as the primary data collection instrument for the qualitative study. The study found that the absence of walkway in some high pedestrian traffic areas, discontinuity of sidewalk and path obstructing objects were key factors that reduced the ease with which students with disability use sidewalk on campus. The study recommends an overhauling of the current walking environment as well as enforcement of state and international policy regarding the development of an inclusive environment