A Universal Design

1
A Universal Design Disability Africa
Consulting (UDDAC) Presentation

• Consulting on Universal Design is a necessary
  part of the design process. Consultation is
  therefore provided in all phases and could
  include product information. Consultation is
  provided to codes or model buildings by-laws/
  standards and policy developers. UDDAC assist
  businesses, government and government ministries,
  and parastatals to prepare for the senior
  citizens (elderly), the young and disability
  market.

2
Introduction

• This presentation seeks to share information
  through the work of the Universal Design
  Disability Consulting Africa (UDDAC) a registered
  Trust in Zimbabwe and founded in the year 2002.
• Tomson Dube is my name and am the Executive
  Director of this privately registered Trust. We
  are a team of four people that includes a
  secretary, and 2 other disability activists that
  are Senior Consultants in the company.

3
Focus of Discussion

• Our mission states that UDDAC exists to promote
  the universal design philosophy through service
  provisions to a multiplicity of stakeholders that
  include but not limited to the old (elderly),
  young and people with physical disabilities.

4
The Drive

• This drive (to promote universal design) is
  influenced and/or emanates from our definition of
  the term disability, that means a physical,
  mental or sensory impairment, whether permanent
  or temporary, that limits the capacity to perform
  one or more essential activities of daily life
  and which can be caused or aggravated by the
  economic and social environment. Poverty and
  Disability.

5
Involvement of Stakeholders

• UDDAC seeks to achieve the above work through
  engaging stakeholders in participatory approaches
  that are emancipatory.
• The Trust, (UDDAC) believes universal design is
  the answer to creating a user friendly
  environment for all people. We place our
  emphasis in that together, we can create a
  barrier free society through the provision of
  barrier free travel, tourism, and user friendly
  environment. In addition, we design solutions
  that are more responsive to the needs of all
  people.

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Involvement of Stakeholders contd

• At UDDAC we are committed to the development of
  rural and urban environments that are
  user-friendly and are therefore usable by people
  who constitute a range of ages, sizes and
  abilities.
• We carry out baseline audits of your premises to
  determine assets and deficits in relation to
  Universal Design objectives. Our team of experts
  has experience from small scale buildings to
  large scale urban audits.
• We have a strong experienced team that has been
  in this business longer and themselves living
  with disability.
• We have engaged the Government of Zimbabwes
  various ministries such as Higher Education and
  Technology, Civil Aviation, Environment and
  Tourism, Transportation and the Ministry of
  Health.
• We have also corroborated with other SADC
  countries such as Malawi, Zambia and Botswana at
  various levels.

7
Life Experiences

• UDDAC works with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority
  (ZTA).
• The ZTA is the Implementing Operational Authority
  arm in Zimbabwes issues with regards to tourism.
  We work with them in areas of compliance and
  awareness. One great thing that the authority
  does is to make sure that all lodges, hotels and
  any business people that offer accommodation are
  registered with the ZTA. The authority
  ascertains that the buildings are compliant and
  addresses access issues. However, the authority
  may not have the capacity to visit every
  accommodation providers, but they insist that
  their premises should be accessible then they are
  registered.

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Life Experiences contd

• UDDAC works in partnership with Zimbabwe Council
  for Tourism (ZCT). ZCT is the policy making
  body. ZCT is eligible to receive close to US3
  million that is budgeted for training travel
  industry personnel on customer service skills in
  anticipation of the World Cup this June 2010 in
  South Africa. UDDAC has since engaged the
  Zimbabwe Council for Tourism to offer training to
  personnel staff in areas that will include
  addressing issues of travelers with disabilities,
  Universal Design, or inclusion in any form. UDDAC
  has submitted a budget which ZCT is considering
  so that we can partner in this mammoth task. If
  successful, UDDAC will be contracted to train
  specifically on service to travelers with
  disabilities attending World Cup 2010. We see
  this marriage going beyond June 2010 as we seek
  to establish a partnership that lasts longer than
  a single contact.

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WORKING WITH GoZ MINISTRIES

• Working with the Government of Zimbabwe (Selected
  Line Ministries)
• As a representative of UDDAC and in his capacity
  as Senior Consultant, Mr. Malinga used his
  experience from being the ex-mayor of the City of
  Bulawayo to represent our views for accessibility
  of the built environments. As a respected senior
  politician in Zimbabwe he was influential in the
  Ministry of Local Government and National Housing
  in designing a prototype house for disabled
  people. The design was adopted and became a
  model house under the Ministry of Rural Housing
  and Amenities. Another senior Consultant in the
  company Mr. Alexander Phiri uses his expertise in
  engineering and architectural skills to design
  houses for recommendation to the ministry. UDDAC
  has since championed many policies that have
  brought a difference on the disability movement.
  We lobby and influence in the building of schools
  that are accessible. We make sure that there are
  by-laws that direct municipalities, (Planners and
  Designers), construction and engineering
  companies in building public buildings and other
  public facilities. The schools construction model
  was later taken to the national level through
  engaging the bodies that are influential. The
  same applies to the Ministry of Health and Child
  Welfare they consult in areas of improvements in
  infrastructure. Most of the public buildings
  were constructed during the colonial era and
  nothing to support the disability community was
  included.

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WORKING WITH GoZ MINISTRIES Contd

• UDDAC has engaged Cresta Group of Hotels
  especially, Jameson Hotel management with regards
  to the inaccessibility of the main entrance to
  the hotel. UDDAC staff had been patronizing
  Cresta Jameson Hotel since 2002 to 2007 and had
  never seen any conference organized by people
  with disabilities at the hotel premises. When
  asked why it was the case, management only
  managed to say they (disabled people) shun our
  hotel. UDDAC then told them that there were no
  basic assistive devices such as a simple ramp.
  This had never crossed their mind. The following
  day, there was a make-shift quick solution.
  UDDAC observed that management had genuinely
  constructed a poor below standard ramp. The ramp
  would be quickly removed because it did not give
  the hotel a corporate image. Rainbow Hotel
  (formerly called Bulawayo Sun Hotel), used to be
  inaccessible but through UDDACs advisory
  services, the management was committed and
  responsive. Today all of disabled peoples
  workshops in the city are held at the hotel
  because of its accessibility.

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WORKING WITH GoZ MINISTRIES Contd

• Holiday Inn at least there are great efforts
  that have been done. There is parking space
  clearly marked and designated for people with
  disability. They have public toilets and a room
  reserved for disabled people. This is not enough
  because there is only one room (Room 710).
  Formerly called Harare Sheraton and now called
  Rainbow Towers there are challenges from the
  hotel lobby to the conference centre. There is a
  ramp that is almost 90 degrees. The conference
  Centre is completely inaccessible. Kadoma Ranch
  Motel and Conference Centre is part of the
  Rainbow Group of Hotels. UDDAC was involved and
  the place is a very good and accessible place to
  be. The toilets are the best accessible places at
  the hotel. UDDAC continues to make an audit of
  the tourism industry and hope to cover most of
  the hotels within the next two years.

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The Malawian Experience

• Observation 1. Construction of Parliament
  Building
• UDDACs involvement was during the current
  construction of Malawis new Parliament building.
  UDDAC observed the drawings and commented thus
  It is still not accessible as the only rail-lift
  that is introduced caters for a limited section
  of the building. Inside the building itself,
  disabled people on wheel chairs would be
  physically lifted to find their way to the foyer.
  There are current serious omissions on access
  issues that still need considerations. Upon an
  intense scrutiny, we found out that the drawings
  for the plan were done in China and the Chinese
  are the construction company (there is nothing
  wrong with this arrangement), but we found out
  that there was need to adjust door sizes ,
  passage ways and most of the toilets are
  inaccessible especially restaurants toilets were
  inaccessible for disabled people. The public
  gallery auditorium is accessible, but the
  committee rooms are not. In such cases, we
  professional advise was offered and our audit was
  shared with the Construction Supervisor at site

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The Malawian Experience Contd

• Observation 2. The Tourist Place (Mausoleum)
• Soon after the death of the long serving founding
  father president Dr. Hastings Kamuzu Banda, his
  body was embalmed and placed at a selected place
  that led to the creation of a tourist attraction
  place. The place though a scenic place is not
  accessible. There is a ramp that is not to UN
  Standards. UN Standard stipulates that ramps
  should be between 1 in 12 or 1 in 24 maximum and
  the ramp that is there is far below the expected
  standard. Infact it has a ninety degree
  gradient. UDDAC gave the authorities advice
  which is yet to be followed up if this was
  corrected.

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The Malawian Experience Contd

• Observation 3. Capitol Hotel
• A visit to the Capitol Hotel was one of our most
  shocking experiences. This is one of the most
  popular hotels in Lilongwe, Malawi. The Hotel is
  completely inaccessible. For wheel chair users,
  you need four people to help you to either go up
  on their ramp or down to the foyer. UDDAC
  engaged the Public Relations person who also
  asked us to contact the Sunbird Group of Hotels
  in Malawi to either have a meeting or make
  suggestions for our observations. (We are yet to
  schedule a meeting with the concerned
  proprietors).

15
The Zambian Experience

• In partnership with the Southern Africa
  Federation for Disabled (SAFOD), UDDAC
  participated at a press conference conducted in
  Zambia in late October 2009. The media
  conference attracted eight (8) to ten (10) media
  houses that attended the press conference. This
  conference was immediately followed by serious
  articles of access issues. The press conference
  was held at the Intercontinental Hotel which
  itself has access issues. While some of their
  hotel rooms are accessible, the majority are not.
  In most cases, not only in the Zambian case,
  when such accessible issues are raised, there is
  always a quick response of a half-baked solution.
  There is no commitment there are make-shift
  ramps just for the occasion. There is no
  political will. The concept of UD inclusive of
  accessibility is that facilities should be 100
  user friendly.

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The South African Observation Experience

• Recently, UDDAC senior officials attended the
  just ended December African Network for
  Evidence-to-Action in Disability (Afri-NEAD)
  Symposium in South Africa at Cape Town. One of
  the Senior Consultant was an international
  invited guest but ended up sitting with the
  ordinary invited guests (not that there is
  anything wrong sitting with ordinary guests).
  The event was at the Sports grounds of the
  University of Stellenbosch. The place was not
  accessible and there were serious challenges.
  The guest on Honour was the Vice President
  Monhlante of SA, who shared the stage with
  Honourable Zille President of the Democratic
  Alliance. Mr. Muzi Nkosi (chairperson of DPSA),
  was an invited guest and he is 100 reliant on a
  wheel chair. They had to lift him up to the
  podium because it was inaccessible to get to the
  top table. The entire internationally invited
  guests could not access the podium and they set
  with the crowd. Yet this was a Symposium whose
  majority were disabled people. These are the
  things we as UDDAC are bringing awareness to the
  world and there is a lot of work that is on our
  hands.

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Working with the Civil Aviation Authority of
Zimbabwe

• UDDACs mission and interest is that Zimbabwes
  five airports are accessible. The five (5)
  airports include Harare International Airport,
  Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International airport
  (ex-Bulawayo International Airport), Victoria
  Falls Airport, Kariba Airport and Buffalo Range
  airport. (See communication between UDDAC and
  CAAZ). UDDAC addresses conferences for Mayors,
  Urban Council Associations of Zimbabwe, town
  planners and town designers, engineering and
  construction companies and Members of Parliament.
  UDDAC is currently working with the Government
  of Zimbabwe as they plan to build the new
  Parliament of Zimbabwe at Kopje Hill. UDDACs
  advise is that the parliament has to be
  accessible. The current parliament is not
  accessible. When Mr. Malinga was a member of the
  Senate, parliament authorities had to erect a
  mini-elevator in order to facilitate his
  movements in and out of the parliament building.

18
Training of Stakeholders

• We train people that handle the elderly, disabled
  people at airports. Our major aim in offering
  training in all this is influenced by our primary
  target to implement and promote the United
  Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled.
  Unfortunately, funds have been scarce in this
  area. The project with ZCT will give mileage to
  our work. Our core business as UDDAC in the
  consultancy business is to promote inclusiveness.
  We advocate that disability could be used as a
  criterion for funding. In the same way women,
  children and animals are targets for funding, so
  should it be a criteria for disabled people in
  order to facilitate services for disabled people.
  We intend to train close for 400 personnel
  under the ZCT proposal in areas of handling
  travellers with disability during the upcoming
  World Cup in South Africa and beyond.

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UDDACs work with Universities

• UDDAC works closely with the National University
  of Science and Technology (NUST) to draw lessons
  learned and influence municipalities to build
  accessible housing and public buildings.
  Accessibility is required through doors,
  elevators (lifts), stairways be it in
  public/private or semi-private domains. We
  encourage students to design simple ramps as
  these facilitate easy access/travel and movement
  up and downstairs of buildings. The only
  University that is accommodative in Southern
  Africa known to UDDAC is the University of
  Witwatersrand in South Africa that has a lab for
  the blind. The lab accommodates wheel chair
  users, the blind and has a computer Braille
  system. These are facilities that we want to see
  in our institutions of higher learning. Through
  NUST, we have encouraged the municipalities to at
  least say after every 20 parking bays, there is
  need to include disabled parking space. Toilets
  should have dual purposes. It should be huge and
  have an ensuite type of a structure. There is
  need for a specific lining that leads to every
  door or direction.
• UDDAC notices with great concern that there is
  some model of shower designs in hotels in
  Southern African countries, specifically in RSA
  that is not disability user friendly. The shower
  is a small stool that does not have resting
  arms or any supportive devices. It is almost in
  every 4 to 5 star hotels. UDDAC would like to
  consult her colleagues in South Africa if they
  know the designers, so that recommendations for
  improvements can be shared.

20
Senior Consultants Nightmare

• The major thrust behind UDDACs work is to create
  a paradigm shift. To change the mindset. We
  want to inculcate the culture to plan with
  everybody in mind. Everybody includes disabled.
• (Refer to the Mali experience with Mr. Alexander
  Phiri (Mr. Phiri, Mr. Malinga and myself were
  traveling to Bamako-Mali and when we arrived at
  the airport, it was something else. They
  (Malinga Phiri) had to be lifted using a
  forklift. The folk lift driver was very ignorant
  of the dangers he was exposing these guys. When
  they had been taken to a particular level, they
  were merely lifted like babies without
  consultation. The steps were too steep and too
  narrow. When cautioned on their (airport staff)
  behaviour they were very aggressive and
  uncooperative. There were not functional toilets
  and those that were functional, were small and
  inaccessible. It was a nightmare. Most airports
  in some African states are in appalling states.
  If we plan with everybody in mind, our lifts
  would be written in Braille, our trains, buses
  would be having lifts (elevators) that have
  adequate space for someone on a wheel chair to
  navigate. We need the construction industry and
  planners that build inaccessible houses to come
  to us and consult.

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Concluding Remarks

• In addition to what has already been mentioned,
  we carry out baseline audits of your premises to
  determine assets and deficits in relation to
  Universal Design objectives. Our team of experts
  have experience in small scale buildings to large
  scale urban audits.
• We have a strong experienced team that has been
  in this business for years and themselves living
  with disability.
• This is evidenced by our engagement with the
  Government of Zimbabwes various ministries such
  as those mentioned elsewhere in this
  presentation.
• Our work is known to those who have engaged us
  and they are happy with our product.

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Concluding Remarks contd

• We develop and deliver Workshops, Training and
  Evaluations that cater to your organizations
  needs.
• Examples of workshops on offer are
• Disability Sensitivity Training
• Introduction to Universal Design
• Universal Design and Human Rights
• Universal Design and Home Modification
• Researches and Evaluations are carried out as
  commissioned.

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Final Concluding Remarks

• UDDAC is available for conducting research such
  as those previously done under the DKaR project.
  See the research on Promoting inclusion? Disabled
  people, legislation and Public Policy that was
  both interesting and challenging.
• We are available both on short term notice and
  long term notice.
• UDDAC has done work for the African Decade
  Secretariat, as evidenced by the production of a
  Training Module on Mainstreaming Gender and
  Disability,
• UDDAC conducted a PAFOD evaluation that was
  commissioned by the Disability Awareness in
  Action (DAA).
• In addition, please see our article in, In or
  out of the mainstream? edited by Bill Albert
  chapter 8

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FINALLY CONTACT DETAILS

• Thank you for listening. Please do not hesitate
  to contact us on the below listed data
• Tomson Dube
• Office Address Victory Faith Centre 104 George
  Silundika Street, Between 10th Avenue 11th
  Avenue
• Postal P. O. Box 4139, Bulawayo-Zimbabwe, Mobile
  cellular phones 263 11 866 523 or 263 912
  568 029
• Other mobile numbers 263 11 416 478 or 263 11
  702 104 and Home 263 9 20 15 11
• E-mail tomdube-63_at_hotmail.com
• Other alternate e-mails include
  TomsonDube_at_gmail.com, phiri_at_yahoo.com or
  joshuatmalinga_at_yahoo.com