MUNICIPAL PRACTICES AND NEEDS REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY OF PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN QUÉBEC, CANADA

To create enabling environments for as many individuals as possible, including individuals with physical disabilities (IPD) who are more prone to encounter environmental barriers limiting their social participation, we need to examine current municipal practices related to accessibility. The objecti...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Stéphanie Gamache, Francois Routhier, Ernesto Morales, Marie-Hélène Vandersmissen, Jean Leblond, Normand Boucher, Bradford James McFadyen, Luc Noreau
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya 2017-05-01
Series:Journal of Accessibility and Design for All
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jacces.org/index.php/jacces/article/view/122
_version_ 1818609012815429632
author Stéphanie Gamache
Francois Routhier
Ernesto Morales
Marie-Hélène Vandersmissen
Jean Leblond
Normand Boucher
Bradford James McFadyen
Luc Noreau
author_facet Stéphanie Gamache
Francois Routhier
Ernesto Morales
Marie-Hélène Vandersmissen
Jean Leblond
Normand Boucher
Bradford James McFadyen
Luc Noreau
author_sort Stéphanie Gamache
collection DOAJ
description To create enabling environments for as many individuals as possible, including individuals with physical disabilities (IPD) who are more prone to encounter environmental barriers limiting their social participation, we need to examine current municipal practices related to accessibility. The objectives of this study were to describe existing practices for the design of accessible pedestrian infrastructures (API) for IPD living in Quebec (Canada), as well as to identify the perceived informational needs of the municipalities to design such infrastructures. A WEB survey was developed and validated by experts (i.e., municipal/provincial entities, IPD advocacy organisations, public transportation society, and researchers) and was sent to 507 municipalities. Descriptive statistics and recursive partitioning were performed, which allowed for the analyses of predictive variables using arborescence (e.g. the characteristics of the municipality that predict the implementation of various accessible design practices). A total of 186 respondents (representative of 184 of 507 municipalities) completed the survey (37%). Few municipalities have measures, resources and tools to ensure the design of API for IPD. However, many respondents perceived the need for such resources. The presence of an action plan for individuals with visual disabilities and their consultation, availability of human resources, and knowledge of tools for the design of API the implementation of other accessibility practices and should be targeted. Results of this study highlighted the need for conceptualization and implementation of guidelines to ensure API, and identified potential measures to improve practices that favor social participation of IPD.
first_indexed 2024-12-16T14:51:47Z
format Article
id doaj.art-5aa7a069d23d4509828e8984550450b3
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2013-7087
2013-7087
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-16T14:51:47Z
publishDate 2017-05-01
publisher Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
record_format Article
series Journal of Accessibility and Design for All
spelling doaj.art-5aa7a069d23d4509828e8984550450b32022-12-21T22:27:34ZengUniversitat Politècnica de CatalunyaJournal of Accessibility and Design for All2013-70872013-70872017-05-0171215510.17411/jacces.v7i1.122102MUNICIPAL PRACTICES AND NEEDS REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY OF PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN QUÉBEC, CANADAStéphanie Gamache0Francois Routhier1Ernesto Morales2Marie-Hélène Vandersmissen3Jean Leblond4Normand Boucher5Bradford James McFadyen6Luc Noreau7Center for interdisciplinary research in rehabilitation and social integration CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec And Department of rehabilitation, Université LavalCenter for interdisciplinary research in rehabilitation and social integration CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec And Department of rehabilitation, Université LavalCenter for interdisciplinary research in rehabilitation and social integration CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec And Department of rehabilitation, Université LavalDepartment of Geography, Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada; AND Centre for Research in Planning and Development, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada.Center for interdisciplinary research in rehabilitation and social integration CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de QuébecCenter for interdisciplinary research in rehabilitation and social integration CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de QuébecCenter for interdisciplinary research in rehabilitation and social integration CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec And Department of rehabilitation, Université LavalCenter for interdisciplinary research in rehabilitation and social integration CIUSSS de la Capitale Nationale Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec And Department of rehabilitation, Université LavalTo create enabling environments for as many individuals as possible, including individuals with physical disabilities (IPD) who are more prone to encounter environmental barriers limiting their social participation, we need to examine current municipal practices related to accessibility. The objectives of this study were to describe existing practices for the design of accessible pedestrian infrastructures (API) for IPD living in Quebec (Canada), as well as to identify the perceived informational needs of the municipalities to design such infrastructures. A WEB survey was developed and validated by experts (i.e., municipal/provincial entities, IPD advocacy organisations, public transportation society, and researchers) and was sent to 507 municipalities. Descriptive statistics and recursive partitioning were performed, which allowed for the analyses of predictive variables using arborescence (e.g. the characteristics of the municipality that predict the implementation of various accessible design practices). A total of 186 respondents (representative of 184 of 507 municipalities) completed the survey (37%). Few municipalities have measures, resources and tools to ensure the design of API for IPD. However, many respondents perceived the need for such resources. The presence of an action plan for individuals with visual disabilities and their consultation, availability of human resources, and knowledge of tools for the design of API the implementation of other accessibility practices and should be targeted. Results of this study highlighted the need for conceptualization and implementation of guidelines to ensure API, and identified potential measures to improve practices that favor social participation of IPD.http://www.jacces.org/index.php/jacces/article/view/122Pedestrian infrastructures, accessibility, physical disabilities, survey, municipal practices
spellingShingle Stéphanie Gamache
Francois Routhier
Ernesto Morales
Marie-Hélène Vandersmissen
Jean Leblond
Normand Boucher
Bradford James McFadyen
Luc Noreau
MUNICIPAL PRACTICES AND NEEDS REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY OF PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN QUÉBEC, CANADA
Journal of Accessibility and Design for All
Pedestrian infrastructures, accessibility, physical disabilities, survey, municipal practices
title MUNICIPAL PRACTICES AND NEEDS REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY OF PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN QUÉBEC, CANADA
title_full MUNICIPAL PRACTICES AND NEEDS REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY OF PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN QUÉBEC, CANADA
title_fullStr MUNICIPAL PRACTICES AND NEEDS REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY OF PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN QUÉBEC, CANADA
title_full_unstemmed MUNICIPAL PRACTICES AND NEEDS REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY OF PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN QUÉBEC, CANADA
title_short MUNICIPAL PRACTICES AND NEEDS REGARDING ACCESSIBILITY OF PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN QUÉBEC, CANADA
title_sort municipal practices and needs regarding accessibility of pedestrian infrastructures for individuals with physical disabilities in quebec canada
topic Pedestrian infrastructures, accessibility, physical disabilities, survey, municipal practices
url http://www.jacces.org/index.php/jacces/article/view/122
work_keys_str_mv AT stephaniegamache municipalpracticesandneedsregardingaccessibilityofpedestrianinfrastructuresforindividualswithphysicaldisabilitiesinquebeccanada
AT francoisrouthier municipalpracticesandneedsregardingaccessibilityofpedestrianinfrastructuresforindividualswithphysicaldisabilitiesinquebeccanada
AT ernestomorales municipalpracticesandneedsregardingaccessibilityofpedestrianinfrastructuresforindividualswithphysicaldisabilitiesinquebeccanada
AT mariehelenevandersmissen municipalpracticesandneedsregardingaccessibilityofpedestrianinfrastructuresforindividualswithphysicaldisabilitiesinquebeccanada
AT jeanleblond municipalpracticesandneedsregardingaccessibilityofpedestrianinfrastructuresforindividualswithphysicaldisabilitiesinquebeccanada
AT normandboucher municipalpracticesandneedsregardingaccessibilityofpedestrianinfrastructuresforindividualswithphysicaldisabilitiesinquebeccanada
AT bradfordjamesmcfadyen municipalpracticesandneedsregardingaccessibilityofpedestrianinfrastructuresforindividualswithphysicaldisabilitiesinquebeccanada
AT lucnoreau municipalpracticesandneedsregardingaccessibilityofpedestrianinfrastructuresforindividualswithphysicaldisabilitiesinquebeccanada