The UN Convention on Disability, which has been in force in the Netherlands since 2016, pays a lot of attention to the accessibility of society for people with disabilities.
The participation in society of people with disabilities has lagged behind the general population for decades. An important cause of this is their limited accessibility to society. Long-term research by Nivel among people with disabilities and their loved ones shows that not only physical barriers, but also limitations in financial resources and social contacts mean that they are less able to participate. The UN Convention on Disability, which has been in force in the Netherlands since 2016, pays a lot of attention to the accessibility of society for people with disabilities. The national strategy for its implementation was determined in February this year. The government wants to bring the position of people with disabilities into line with the content of the UN treaty by 2040 at the latest.
The Coalition for Inclusion (2022) states that people’s differences must be taken into account when organizing society. This means that people with disabilities are less dependent on special facilities and can participate independently in society. However, despite the efforts of various agencies and organizations, their participation in society has lagged behind the general population for decades. What challenges do people with disabilities and their loved ones face? What are their experiences, ideas and wishes? With the help of the Nivel panels, we give these people a voice and thus highlight their perspective. Would you like to discuss how we can use this perspective to start new initiatives to get people to participate more? Then register now for our Nivel-connects session Perspectives on Accessibility on May 23!
Reduced accessibility is not only physical in nature
People with a physical or intellectual disability regularly experience less accessibility to various facilities than the general population. This can be done, for example, by the presence of thresholds, passageways that are too tight, the lack of a lift or insufficient seats. However, their perceived accessibility to society is not just about physical barriers. They also experience bottlenecks in the areas of financial accessibility, social accessibility and information accessibility. In general, the more severe the disability people have, the less easily they participate in society.
People with disabilities are less likely to make ends meet
Less than half (43%) of people with a physical disability had paid work for more than 1 hour a week in 2022. Only 13% of people with an intellectual disability had paid work. The contrast with the general population is stark: 86% had paid work. The vast majority of people with a physical or intellectual disability live on benefits. This had consequences for the social security of these groups. A significant number of them could not make ends meet or just barely made it. Various leisure facilities and outings, as well as daily needs, were therefore less accessible to them.
No free time, no energy from working. Reducing work is not financially possible with all the skyrocketing prices. Nivel panel member with a physical disability
Lack of social accessibility to society leads to loneliness
Among people with an intellectual disability, we see that most social contact takes place with family and much less with friends or neighbors. It often happens that they feel lonely. They mention, for example, the presence of too many stimuli or being treated in an unpleasant way as stumbling blocks.
The bickering must stop. I don’t like it when they tease me either because they are mean jokes. Nivel panel member with an intellectual disability (about the working environment)
Relatives of people with an intellectual disability also experience a reduction in social accessibility to society. Because they provide care, participating in social activities or having paid work can become more difficult for them.
Interactive meeting about Perspectives on Accessibility
What do citizens, patients, informal caregivers or people with disabilities mean by ‘accessibility’ in healthcare and welfare? When does accessibility turn into inaccessibility for them? We conduct research into this using our Nivel panels, in which citizens and patients as well as informal caregivers and people with disabilities have a voice. What would you like to know about accessibility and what it means for them? We would be happy to discuss this with you!
Join!
On Thursday, May 23, we are organizing an interactive meeting at Nivel (in Utrecht, within walking distance of Central Station) about Perspectives on Accessibility: from citizens, patients, informal caregivers and people with disabilities.
For whom
Are you a healthcare policy officer, researcher or advocate and would you like to participate or read more about it? Which can! Go to our registration page for more information or to register immediately!
About the research
The results presented come from research with the Nivel panels. We conduct research into the experiences, wishes and ideas in the field of care and participation of various groups in society, including citizens, patients, informal caregivers and people with disabilities. For the study into the perceived accessibility of society, results from research with the National Panel for the Chronically Ill and the Disabled, the Nivel Panel Living Together, the Nivel Consumer Panel on Healthcare and the Nivel Panel of Relatives were included. Third parties can also have research carried out with the Nivel panels.
Source: Nivel
Tags: society accessible people disabilities
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