SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 1985
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ACCESS FOR DISABLED IN NEW BUILDINGS
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THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS PULLISHED A BOOKLET DETAILING THE ARCHITECTURAL PROVISIONS THAT SHOULD BE INCORPORATED IN NEW BUILDINGS TO MAKE THEM AS CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE FOR THE DISABLED TO USE.
CALLED THE DESIGN MANUAL ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED 1984, THE BOOKLET SUPERSEDES THE CODE OF PRACTICE - ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED WHICH WAS PUBLISHED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN 1976.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE BOOKLET INCORPORATED A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO THE LEGISLATION MADE UNDER SECTION 38 OF THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE (CAP. 123). RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ALSO MADE AS TO OTHER FACILITIES WHICH WOULD ENSURE INCREASED MOBILITY, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LESS SEVERELY DISABLED.
+THE PUBLICATION OF THESE REGULATIONS AND THIS DESIGN MANUAL RESTS ON THE BELIEF THAT A DISABLED PERSON HAS THE SAME RIGHT AS ANY INDIVIDUAL - THE RIGHTS TO MEDICAL AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, EDUCATIONS, HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORT, CULTURAL, SPORTS AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL HASTEN THE PROCESS OF HIS SOCIAL INTEGRATION OR REINTEGRATION, HE SAID.
BARRIERS SUCH AS STEPS OR STAIRS WITHOUT ADEQUATE HANDRAILS AND INCONVENIENT DOORWAYS HAVE PROVED A GREAT HINDERANCE NOT ONLY TO DISABLED PEOPLE BUT ALSO TO THE ELDERLY AND PREGNANT WOMEN.
+THE FITTEST PERSON TODAY MAY FIND HIMSELF ON CRUTCHES TOMORROW,+ HE SAID.
ARCHITECTS WITH A LITTLE FORETHOUGHT AND INITIATIVE COULD, BY DESIGNING BARRIER-FREE BUILDINGS, HELP CONSIDERABLY TOWARDS THE GREATER INDEPENDENCE OF THE DISABLED IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES AND THEIR INTEGRATION WITH THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THESE STANDARDS WILL NOT DETRACT FROM THE NORMAL USE OF THE BUILDINGS BY THOSE WHO ARE NOT HANDICAPPED, BUT WILL MAKE BUILDINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND SAFER FOR ALL WHO USE THEM, HE SAID.
THE 24-PAGE BOOKLET IS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $10 PER COPY.
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