Accessibility



Excerpt from Operational Guidelines on Accessibility (2005):

Conforming with international accessibility standards is a guaranteed return on investment: with greater independence for some and benefits for all as an inclusive environment incorporates universal requirements of security and comfort. Among the tangible benefits obtained is a reduction in accidents and, consequently, a reduction in health care expenses and loss of productivity.

The Guidelines facilitate the incorporation of accessibility - with universal design principles - into the preparation phase of projects on urban development, building, and public transportation. The Guidelines contribute with conceptual and technical knowledge to professionals responsible for new initiatives by providing analysis and design measures on how to create access to public environments for all persons independently of their physical and sensory characteristics. The criteria, parameters, and technical recommendations cited in the publication are based on the 'Normas Técnicas Regionales de Accesibilidad' of COPANT (Comisión Panamericana de Normas Técnicas).


IDB Resources

Publications

Operational Guidelines on Accessibility in Urban Development Projects with Universal Design Principles
By Eduardo Alvarez and Verônica Camisão, edited by José Brakarz and Tomás Engler. September 2005.

Pathways to Accessibility: Disability and the Physical Environment in Latin America and the Caribbean
By Eduardo Alvarez, 2001.

Facilitando el transporte para todos - Available in Spanish and Portuguese
Edited by Charles L. Wright, 2001. 

Projects

Support for Preparation of the Montevideo Urban Transport Program
Uruguay, 2006
The objective of this TC is to develop preparatory studies and activities in the fallowing basic aspects: (i) planning activities, including the update of the transport demand models and traffic simulations; and (ii) operative and functional design of the collective component of public transport, including the elaboration of the Environmental Impact Study and the respective mitigation plans of the social and environmental impacts that will result from the implementation of the proposed alternatives in the Program.

Urban Transportation Program for the Federal District
Brazil, 2007
The interventions financed by this operation can be classified in three different groups: traffic infrastructure; use of these interventions to improve the performance of the public transportation system (metro and buses) and cause a urban renovation; and improvement in the managing of public transportation. The project includes the improvement of universal accessibility.

For a full list of projects in 'Transport' and 'Urban Development' please see the sectors in see the Project Gateway.


International Standards and Mandates

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT)

Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)

The International Commission on Technology and Accessibility (ICTA)

Universal Design for Sustainable and Inclusive Development
Rio Charter. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. December 12, 2004


International Organizations

Instituto Uruguayo de Normas Técnicas (UNIT )
COPANT Secretariat for the Technical Committee on Accessibility

Transport
Urban Development
World Bank


Further Resources

Resources in Spanish

International Electrotechnical Commission
Leading global organization preparing and publishing international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies.