Traveling together: Improving access of people with disability to road infrastructure in PNG
Despite the fact that an estimated 15% of the population, or 1 million people, are living with a disability in PNG, people with disabilities are often excluded from community development activities. Road infrastructure is a recognized approach to poverty reduction in developing countries, through improving community access to essential services, social networks and economic opportunities. Community participation in identifying news and improving design is crucial for sustainable, effective and efficient road infrastructure development, which should connect people and places appropriately, and benefit the poorest groups. People with disabilities are typically among the poorest and most vulnerable in any society, but there is very little evidence about the most effective ways to involve them in road infrastructure planning.
The 'Traveling Together' research project is investigating:
This is a participatory research project involving a wide range of community members and organizations. People with disabilities and Disabled People's Organizations (DPOs) have played an important role in the design of the project, data collection and analysis and sharing the findings. The project has also involved families, carers and communities of people with debilities, disability service providers, national and provincial level government planners and contractors involved in building roads in the rural and urban areas of PNG, and donors.
The research findings are being used as a basis for developing guidelines for road infrastructure planners and implementers, on how to include people with disabilities in their activities and better understand there needs as road users. People with disabilities and DPOs will also be able to use the research findings in future advocacy activities, and to provide advice to the government and other organizations on disability inclusion.
The 'Traveling Together' research project is investigating:
- Positive and negative impacts of roads on the lives of people with disabilities;
- How people with disabilities are currently involved in road planning;
- The recommended approaches for engaging people with disabilities in road consultations, planning and management.
This is a participatory research project involving a wide range of community members and organizations. People with disabilities and Disabled People's Organizations (DPOs) have played an important role in the design of the project, data collection and analysis and sharing the findings. The project has also involved families, carers and communities of people with debilities, disability service providers, national and provincial level government planners and contractors involved in building roads in the rural and urban areas of PNG, and donors.
The research findings are being used as a basis for developing guidelines for road infrastructure planners and implementers, on how to include people with disabilities in their activities and better understand there needs as road users. People with disabilities and DPOs will also be able to use the research findings in future advocacy activities, and to provide advice to the government and other organizations on disability inclusion.