The Needs of People with Developmental Disabilities Vis-à-Vis Accessibility Standards in the Built Environment

Abstract

People with developmental disabilities, who represent about 2% of the global population, encounter diverse functional and cognitive challenges that adversely impact their navigation and accessibility experiences in the built environments. Historically, accessibility standards predominantly focused on physical barriers, with less attention given to sensory and cognitive barriers. This multipart study delves into barriers faced by individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities in the built environment. The first part reviews the state of existing literature on developmental disabilities. The second part captures insights from individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities as they navigate various public buildings. The final part synthesizes the collected information, including lessons learned from autism-friendly architectural and other design requirements, to assess the current state of development of the Canadian accessibility standard, CSA/ASC B651:23, in meeting the needs of people with developmental disabilities. The study culminates in recommendations aimed at enhancing the accessibility standard for the built environment, specifically in addressing sensory and cognitive barriers faced by people with developmental disabilities.