Accessibility of University of Botswana main campus buildings to wheelchair users

Abstract

The built environment, including schools, has many architectural barriers which may prevent wheelchairs users from independently gaining access to buildings. The purpose of this study was to assess the accessibility of the University of Botswana’s (UB) main campus buildings to wheelchairs users. A buildings checklist, participant observation and interviews of wheelchair users were used to collect data. It was found that the majority of the buildings were not accessible.Of major concern was the fact that most buildings which are used for academic and social purposes are inaccessible to students with disabilities. Common barriers include steep ramps with no shade,marked but narrow, un-shaded parking lots, inadequate ramps at the entrances, high counters and lack of shaded pathways. On a positive note, some institutional buildings were found to have wide doors, wide corridors, some ramps with rails, and some shaded entrances. It is recommended that the existing buildings be modified to accommodate students with disability, to promote their independence and improve the quality of their social and academic life.