Field and river

20th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (ICES20)
Mekelle University, Ethiopia

"Regional and Global Ethiopia - Interconnections and Identities"
1-5 October, 2018

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TRANSPORT PATTERNS AND PROBLEMS OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND ITS POLICY ISSUES: CASES IN ADDIS ABABA [Abstract ID: 0304-08]

TESSEMA Eseta, Dept of Administration and Public Management, MPMP, A.A.U

Lack of access to transport has a major impact on the lives and life choices of disabled people. Transport is essential for disabled people to access education, employment, health services, social events and leisure pursuits. The lack of an accessible means of independent travel creates social exclusion for many disabled people. Many people with disabilities do not have equal access to health care, education, and employment opportunities, do not receive the disability-related services that they require, and experience exclusion from everyday life activities. The aim of this paper was to study and collect empirical evidence on the transport problems faced by people with disabilities and to produce policy-relevant data on disability that can be used by policymakers to design transport systems that serve everyone equally. The study was conducted in Addis Ababa using both qualitative and quantitative research methods and different instruments. The study was based on primary data collected in the month of March, 2017 from randomly selected clients of the study population. In addition, secondary data, semi structured interviews, observation and desk study were used to collect data for analysis. This study showed the impact of lack of access to transport on disabled people in terms of education, employment, health services, social events, leisure pursuits and social exclusion. It confirmed the importance of transport as a policy issue for an inclusive society. It concludes by presenting recommendations based on the findings.