With some countries beginning to emerge from lockdown and others still in the grip of the COVID pandemic, both immediate barriers to travel and the gradual relaxation of restrictions raise significant issues about personal freedom and ability to move about.
For people with disabilities, requirements such as wearing face masks and social distancing both in the pedestrian environment and on public transport can be challenging and sometimes impossible to meet.
By bringing in direct lived experience of people with disabilities and knowledge from world renowned experts, this webinar explored key mobility and accessibility challenges for People with Disabilities in the post-lockdown phase, and possible solutions both for the immediate problems and for the longer-term, combining technology with policy and practice.
This webinar, held on July 23, features panelists from HVT’s Inclusive Access Network.
Speakers
Ann Frye
An international specialist on the mobility needs of people with disabilities and older people. She works as an expert advisor on both international and UK projects on accessibility, including developing and establishing best practice in delivering accessibility and mobility options for people with physical, sensory, cognitive and mental health issues. Ann has worked in this field for over 30 years; until 2006 she headed the Mobility & Inclusion Unit in the UK Department for Transport where she delivered a major programme of research, legislation and policy to promote the mobility of disabled and older people in all areas of transport.
Samuel Mani
Indian entrepreneur who co-runs the NGO “Yes! We can”, a group formed by individuals living with various disabilities, who have come together to promote independent living and commonly share personal experiences and solve problems that are linked to the process living independently. In order to achieve independent living, “Yes! We can” organise a variety of events and workshops to equip its members with proper skills and aptitude that will help them in facing various situations and also help them in becoming a contributing part of society. Samuel is affected by cerebral palsy and is a wheelchair user.
Crystal Asige
A musician, YouTuber and an Accessibility Auditor and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Consultant from Kenya. She leads and consults on projects surrounding universal design and accessibility best practices in order to achieve inclusive transport and infrastructure, with a focus on how SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) and STG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) disproportionately affects people with disabilities. Crystal, who is visually impaired, hosts a YouTube vlog called “‘Blind Girl Manenos” and the TV show “Ability Show”, which “edu-tains” audiences on matters about people with disabilities to demystify disability and break through societal barriers.
Prof. Nick Tyler
The Chadwick Professor of Civil Engineering at University College London (UCL) and Director of the UCL Centre for Transport Studies. He works extensively with bodies such as Transport for London, national and local governments, and civil society, currently in the UK, EU, Latin America, Japan, China and Lebanon, to help create an accessible, adaptive and sustainable urban realm, which is responsive to all people and their needs. Nick recently created PEARL, a £47m massive multiscale multisensorial laboratory for studying the interactions of environments, people and their activities at life-scale, which is currently under construction, and will replace PAMELA, his current laboratory, which has been in operation for over 12 years.
Dr Margie Peden
Head of Global Injury at The George Institute, UK. She worked for the WHO in Geneva where she coordinated the unintentional injury prevention team for 17 years, was the executive editor of both world reports on Road traffic injury prevention and Child injury prevention, and contributed to multiple WHO documents on road safety, adolescent health, alcohol, and other unintentional injuries. Dr Peden is also Co-director of the WHO Collaborating Centre, as well as holding positions at the University of New South Wales and Johns Hopkins University. She authored the insight paper on Transport and health during and after COVID-19 with Dr Olive Kobusingye.
Dr Joseph Kwan
Deputy Vice-President, Asia Pacific of Rehabilitation International (RI), and a Member of RI Task Force on Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR). He has been Global Chair of RI-ICTA (International Commission on Technology and Accessibility) from 2006- 2016. Dr Kwan is the Founder and Managing Director of Universal Design and Accessibility Consultants Ltd. in Hong Kong, and has more than 40 years of experience in international architectural practice having worked in Australia, United Kingdom, France and Hong Kong.