Safer roads for disabled people discussed

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thursday 28th March 2013

 SAFER and accessible road for people living with disabilities was the focus of discussions at a workshop in Port Moresby this week.

 The workshop discussed a three-year project funded by AusAID and implemented by several partner organisations, including Assembly of Disabled People (ADP) and Cardno Emerging Market. 

The three-phased project examines the use of road infrastructure by people with disabilities and develop guidelines to assist decision-makers and stakeholders to understand the needs of people with disabilities as road users.

ADP chairperson Ipul Powaseu said research was carried out by 10 people who are living with disabilities in Goroka, Lae, Madang and Kavieng. 

She said phase one of the project was data collection, phase two was data analysis and phase three was advocacy and training. 

“This project carries out survey to see whether the road is accessible for people living with disabilities,” she said. 

Powaseu said it was promising for them as the ministry of Community Development, Religion and Family Affairs had made a commitment to take this issue on board. 

Joseph Lapango who collected data in Kavieng said the date collecting team had two weeks training. 

He added that the research and project would benefit many people living with disabilities as well as able people.