Study shows limited access for people with disabilities

Access to public services in some buildings around the country is still a challenge to people living with disabilities (PLWDs).A 2009 Ministerial Order directed all buildings where public services are offered to provide special passage ways for PLWDs, but the order has not been fully heeded, according to Eng. Catherine Kalisa, the Director of Inspection at the Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA).“Currently only about 40 percent of the buildings can be accessed by PWLDs but our target is to make sure that all buildings conform to the directive before the end of this year,” Kalisa said, adding that these people also have the right to access the services offered in the buildings.She said that when an evaluation is carried out at the end of the year, a penalty will be meted out to those that would not have complied.However, Kalisa could not readily substantiate what form of penalties, saying that consultations with stakeholders are still ongoing to determine what sort of penalties will be imposed.She said the inspections they have so far carried out indicate that the majority of complexes that don’t have these facilities are old buildings which were constructed before the decree.According to her, the housing authority has finalised distributing booklets containing new construction instructions to all developers in the country, adding that they also provide technical support on how to redesign existing buildings to have the facilities.Some of the buildings that need to be redesigned include hospitality facilities, banks, and government offices.In a separate interview, Rusiha Gaston, the President of the National Council of People with Disabilities (NCPD) said: “The mindset of the general public has changed regarding providing PLWDs access to buildings where public services are offered.”He asked RHA and other concerned institutions to make regular supervision of buildings under construction to ensure they comply with the decree.“My message to the general public is that they should treat people with disabilities as any other person because they deserve equal rights like other citizens in this country”. Rusiha said. He added that NCPD is working with RHA on producing a documentary film which will be aired on Rwanda Television to ensure that owners of buildings include all access provisions of people with disabilities in their plans.