Architectural Barriers

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31635, 22 March 1968, Page 1

Architectural Barriers

A campaign for public recognition of “architectural barriers to the disabled,” being launched by the Canterbury Co-ordinating Council for the Handicapped, will focus attention on narrow entrances, heavy doors, high steps and kerbs, which the council thinks are often unnecessary. Founded seven years ago, the council co-ordinates action on the common problems of about 20 welfare organisations in Christchurch. All aim to give those in their care the maximum degree of activity, independence and productive work. The chairman (Mr W. J. Boyd) said current discussions on architectural barriers would culminate in a seminar in June, when architects, city planners, builders and managers of a variety of public buildings would be invited to discuss ways of easing problems. Mr Boyd mentioned some of the problems: doorways not wide enough to take a wheelchair; steps too high for those wearing calipers; stairs which strain those with heart disease. The council, Mr Boyd said, suspected that such obstacles could be lessened without extra expense if planners thought about the problems. Post offices, banks, libraries, hospitals, hotels and other public buildings were among the places where the handicapped struck trouble, he said. It might be claimed that the council wanted to legislate for a small minority. In fact, many more were affected than most people realised, and the council was obtaining numbers. “There will be more because of the increase in road and industrial accidents,” said Mr Boyd. “These people are not seen on the streets simply because of the architectural barriers, but it is part of their rehabilitation to do things for themselves.” The photograph shows Mrs M. Goode, of 17 Hawthorne Street, Papanui, with Mr Boyd at the Papanui Post Office, from which she has had to move her savings account because of access problems. She is paralysed from the waist down.