Physical and social barriers for disabled urban park users: Case study from Kastamonu, Turkey

Abstract

More than a billion people in the world suffer from some kind of disability, which can affect quality of life. Some people experience physical or social disadvantages depending on the nature of their disabilities. The social disadvantages stem from civic policies that do not take into consideration the needs of disabled people, standards that are not fulfilled and people’s prejudices. In this study, barriers that disabled people experience in physical and social environments are examined in terms of open areas and greenspaces. To this end, popular parks in Kastamonu from Turkey were chosen as the study area. In the scope of the study, a questionnaire was given to 124 disabled persons and the relatives of disabled persons and 382 individuals who currently do not have any disabilities. Multivariate linear regression was used in order to evaluate the questionnaire data. The study results indicate that disabled individuals encounter physical and social barriers, and they also confirm that non-disabled people often complain about the same problems as disabled people with regard to the management and running of public parks. Moreover, the study reveals that the actions of public law corporations toward disabled people are not sufficient and public information and awareness-raising activities also fall short.

More than a billion people in the world suffer from some kind of disability, which can affect quality of life.Some people experience physical or social disadvantages depending on the nature of their disabilities. Thesocial disadvantages stem from civic policies that do not take into consideration the needs of disabled people,standards that are not fulfilled and people’s prejudices. In this study, barriers that disabled people experiencein physical and social environments are examined in terms of open areas and greenspaces. To thisend, popular parks in Kastamonu from Turkey were chosen as the study area. In the scope of the study, aquestionnaire was given to 124 disabled persons and the relatives of disabled persons and 382 individualswho currently do not have any disabilities. Multivariate linear regression was used in order to evaluate thequestionnaire data. The study results indicate that disabled individuals encounter physical and social barriers,and they also confirm that non-disabled people often complain about the same problems as disabled peoplewith regard to the management and running of public parks. Moreover, the study reveals that the actions ofpublic law corporations toward disabled people are not sufficient and public information and awareness-raisingactivities also fall short.