Less than 30% of urban and public spaces in Iran are retrofitted for the disabled, head of rehabilitation office of the State Welfare Organization of Iran said.
Kazem Nazmdeh told ISNA lack of accessibility of the disabled to public facilities has long been ignored as most public areas lack reasonable adjustment to their physical impairment.
According to the Statistical Center of Iran, the total number of people with at least one type of disability (physical, hearing, visual, and mental) in the country exceeds 11 million, which is 13.5% of the total 81 million population.
However, those registered by SWO are close to1.5 million, of which 100,000 have chronic conditions of disability and in care centers affiliated to the state organization.
"A large number of the disabled live with their families in cities and villages. They are in dire need of specialized and daily care to be able to lead normal lives."
Nazmdeh recommended clearing urban spaces from physical barriers that hamper participation of the disabled in society and their easy access to public places like shops, banks, cinemas, hospitals, and leisure centers is the least that must be done for the physically challenged.
Providing ramps and stairway lifts, widening doorways, installing automatic doors, providing more lighting and clear signs in public places and buildings are other necessary measures for the physically impaired.
Some Good Measures
Despite the inaction, some measures have been taken to make life a tad easier for those in need.
In September 2017, the SWO allocated 230 billion rials ($1.7 million) to help modify homes and vehicles of 11,500 people with physical disabilities mostly in rural areas.
In November 2018, Tehran Urban and Suburban Railway Operation Company started a plan to adjust the subway system to make it friendlier to the disabled.
As per the plan, entrance gates, elevators, and escalators of subway lines under construction are being made in a way that also meets the needs of the physically impaired.
Tehran subway system includes 7 lines (Lines 1 to 7). Line 6 and 7 are yet to become operational.
The plan also entails offering wheelchair access in subway stations to those with impaired mobility, vision or hearing.
According to Anoushiravan Mohseni, head of SWO, the number of disabled people in Iran is growing due to three main factors, namely diabetes, road accidents and genetic disorders.
