The general elections are upcoming and we can use this space to advocate for what we want to see done for persons with disabilities accommodation in polling centers. What could be done better?
I think election officials should be trained on disability accommodation. For example, if there are no braille election material, the official could be the guide and help the person with visual impairment accordingly.
Gov (electoral body) should take concrete steps to develop the capacity of its officials to effectively monitor the implementation of regulations to ensure compliance with accessibility requirements for PWD
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I agree completely with this. This is one of the issues we should advocate for.
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Gov (electoral body) should take concrete steps to develop the capacity of its officials to effectively monitor the implementation of regulations to ensure compliance with accessibility requirements for PWD<\/p>","bodyRaw":"[{\"insert\":\"Gov (electoral body) should take concrete steps to develop the capacity of its officials to effectively monitor the implementation of regulations to ensure compliance with accessibility requirements for PWD\\n\"}]","format":"rich","dateInserted":"2022-06-06T17:50:35+00:00","insertUser":{"userID":72182,"name":"verogakio","url":"https:\/\/enableme.vanillacommunities.com\/profile\/verogakio","photoUrl":"https:\/\/us.v-cdn.net\/6032412\/uploads\/userpics\/07J8V6UWN32W\/nHR0ZI6CB4WUD.jpg","dateLastActive":"2023-11-22T01:30:25+00:00","banned":0,"punished":0,"private":false,"label":"âœâœâœ","labelHtml":"âœâœâœ"},"displayOptions":{"showUserLabel":false,"showCompactUserInfo":true,"showDiscussionLink":false,"showPostLink":false,"showCategoryLink":false,"renderFullContent":false,"expandByDefault":false},"url":"https:\/\/community.enableme.org\/en\/discussion\/comment\/276486#Comment_276486","embedType":"quote"}"> https://community.enableme.org/en/discussion/comment/276486#Comment_276486
So true...lets keep advocating on this.
I think half of all presidential debates should include at least one question about disability policy.
The electoral system still isn’t inclusive enough, meaning people with disabilities are often excluded from participating on an equal basis. How accessible, for example are party manifestos to pwd, or how are booths designed for easy access and reach by pwd? polling booths too tall for short statured people, and people in wheel chairs or manifestos are not availed in braille for the blind. On polling day it has been witnessed that access to people on wheel chair is a challenge thus pwd have to rely on good samaritans to push or help carry them to polling booths.
This is a response from an Indian context
In reference to this article, M. Karunanidhi the then Cheif Minister of the state of Tamil Nadu, India, was a person who acquired his disability because of his old age. He had a difficult time bringing forth talks on accessibility.
The article talks about a lot of issues that aren't dealt with yet, despite having leaders with evident disabilities. It also talks about how policies play an important role in forming solutions that can be spread nationwide making it a mandate.
There should be talks of accessibility as well. Are the voting booths accessible? This doesn't necessarily mean having ramps, but also the usage of braille by each image on the voting machine.
The Electoral Commission should make it a mandate for the same.
Also the thought of having a change of PwD inclusion in each candidate's manifesto. It should also have reason and a roadmap as to how Accessibility is going to be the norm, according to Global Accessibility Awareness.
As I write this answer and from the responses that I just read from this thread, it is evident that all developing countries have issues and solutions to those issues that are similar in nature, & we need to be tackling this from all fronts as well.
I am a PwD. I have the neurological condition called MS (Multiple Sclerosis). Some readily addressable issues w.r.t my condition, which need to be corrected in quite a few public places including election booths are as follows:
1) Ramps
2) Hand-rails
3) Lifts
It should be ensured that all the above mentioned features are made available, according to the standards of PwD, and shouldn't be made for tokenism, where it doesn't serve the endgoal.
For eg. The ramps have to be a certain incline, according to a National or an International standard. The handrails should be spaced properly, and easily grabbable by a PwD (Person with Disability) or otherwise. Also, the lift space should be enough for a wheelchair-user and the door to the lift-entry should be wide enough.