Accessible Transport and the Opposition

This paper describes how, through a process of social and economic evolution, societies progressively develop responses for coping with disabled persons. Where the economics of existence dictates the need for “Survival of the Fittest.”, many people with disabilities simply die. However, as the economic climate improves survival is possible but social evolution will define the quality of this existence. Within most Western societies this evolution developed into a perceived need to “care for” people with disabilities. This work became an issue of social status and praise usually done by groups of wealthy people purely because those on a more meager income never had the resources or the time for such work. These activities developed into the well know pastime of charity for the disabled. This charity went well beyond the simple care offered to a loved one and resulted in the development of two fundamental attitudes which have profound implications. They are: (1) the creation of paternalistic views towards the disabled; and (2) the development of a segregated mentality towards disability. Disability activists have long ago occupied the high moral ground regarding the need for accessible transport. However, despite a few notable exceptions, there has been little fundamental change in community actions.

• Corporate Authors:

  Transport Canada

  1000 Sherbrooke Street, West, P.O. Box 549
  Montreal, Quebec  Canada  H3A 2R3
• Authors:
  • Hunt, Russel
• Conference:
  • The Fourth International Conference on Mobility and Transport for the Elderly and Disabled Persons
  • Location: Vancouver British Columbia, Canada
  • Date: 1986-7-21 to 1986-7-23
• Publication Date: 1986

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 630-633
• Monograph Title: Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons. Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference, Vancouver, Canada, July 21-23, 1986

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; City planning; Mobility; Persons with disabilities; Physical disabilities; Public transit; Social benefits; Transportation disadvantaged persons
• Identifier Terms: Transed
• Uncontrolled Terms: Charities; Disabled passengers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01051493
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 6 2007 4:53PM